Thousands of Ghanaians gathered at Independence Square in Accra on Saturday to mark the one-week observance of the death of Charles Kojo Fosu, the highlife icon popularly known as Daddy Lumba, whose decades-long musical career helped shape Ghana’s contemporary soundscape.
The commemorative event, which blended solemnity with celebration, was part of funeral proceedings announced by the late musician’s family. Mr. Fosu died on July 26, 2025, at Bank Hospital in Accra following a brief illness. He was 61.
Family members, musicians, public figures, and fans flooded the venue, many wearing traditional mourning attire. Attendees paid tribute to the singer’s legacy, recounting the personal and cultural impact of his music, which spanned over 30 albums and more than three decades.
The gathering followed an earlier candlelight vigil on August 2, also held at Independence Square, where fans sang along to some of Mr. Fosu’s most iconic tracks, including Aben Wo Ha, Sika Asem, and Odo Asem—songs that defined a generation and remain staples in Ghanaian households.
Born in 1964, Daddy Lumba emerged in the 1980s as a transformative figure in highlife music, modernizing the genre with a distinctive fusion of traditional rhythms, melodic guitar lines, and emotionally resonant lyrics. His work helped usher in a new era of Ghanaian popular music and garnered a devoted fan base both at home and across the diaspora.
Final funeral rites are scheduled to take place in Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region. The family has said it will release full burial details in the coming days.
Tributes have continued to pour in from political leaders, industry peers, and fans worldwide, many of whom regard Daddy Lumba as a national treasure and a foundational voice in Ghana’s musical heritage.
