One of Ghana’s celebrated highlife artistes, Daddy Lumba celebrates his birthday today September 29. As the music legend turns 55 years, Ghanaweb takes a look at who he is and some of his tunes which have won the hearts of many.
Daddy Lumba is a multiple award-winning Ghanaian musician with a career spanning three decades. Lumba was born
Read full articleCharles Kwadwo Fosu on the 29th of September 1964 in a village called Nsuta Amangoase in the Sekyere Central District, near Mampong in Ashanti Region.
His father, Owoahene Kwadwo Fosu, a teacher, died when Daddy Lumba was only a child. His mother, Comfort Gyamfi, popularly known as Ama Saah, was also a teacher.
She died in 2001 in Kumasi. Her death was a devastating blow to Lumba as she was literally everything to him. Many of Daddy Lumba’s songs, including ‘Anidaso? W?h? Ma Obiara’, ‘Ohia As?m’, ?mmere Pa B?ba’, ‘Agya Bi Wua Agya Bi Tease’ were dedicated to her.
Daddy Lumba’s music career started at age 16. He was the leader of Juaben Senior High School choir from 1983 to 1984 academic year and he completed in 1985. In Juaben SHS, Lumba formed the Lumba Brothers group with his friend Yaw and girlfriend, Theresa Abebrese.
After school, with the help of his girlfriend Theresa, Lumba traveled to Germany to seek greener pastures.
In Germany, he met Ernest Nana Acheampong. Nana had already formed a group called talking dreams with a white man. The only thing Lumba knew at the time was gospel music, and he has credited Nana Acheampong for introducing him to highlife music.
They formed another group called Lumba Brothers, the same name as his first group when he was in Juaben SHS.
The pair planned releasing an album in 1986 but due to financial constraints, the album was released in 1989 with the help of Lumba’s wife, Akosua Serwaa, who produced the album. The title of the album is Y??y? Aka Akwantuo Mu.
The veteran musician has 33 albums under his belt. The albums include critically acclaimed ones like Aben W?ha, Awosu?, Obi Ate Me So Bu?, Sika As?m and Ebi Se ?y? Aduro.
He is currently gearing up for his 34th album, titled ‘Nnipa Fon Na ?ka Ns?m Fon’ He has been consistent with the release of multiple-hit albums since then and has established himself as one of Ghana's most popular singers of the Highlife genre.
He introduced a future love song master, Ofori Amponsah, through his blockbuster hit album Woho Kyere (1999). Daddy Lumba's pairing in 1999 with the rising star produced five hits and shot Ofori Amponsah into the limelight. Altogether he has sprung the careers of 13 different Ghanaian musicians.
In 1999, he won three awards including Best Album, Artist of the Year and the Most popular Song of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards. Before the year 2002, Daddy Lumba came out every year with a hit album.
His solo career has not been short of controversy; one moment he would release a gospel album and the next he would shock people with his provocative lyrics and music videos. He has also faced accusations of skin bleaching. He has however denied bleaching his skin
