Children of the late Daddy Lumba reading their tribute

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Daddy Lumba finally laid to rest

Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Dec - 15 - 2025 , 00:57 6 minutes read

When chaos gave way to concessions, and sobriety triumphed amid controversy, the remains of Ghanaian music icon, Charles Kwadwo Fosuh, were finally interred last Saturday after months of uncertainty.

At the Baba Yara Stadium's Heroes Park, Ghanaians from all walks of life gathered in Kumasi to bid a solemn farewell to the celebrated musician, popularly known as Daddy Lumba.

Despite the threat of rain, a diverse mix of mourners—including the young and the old, fellow musicians, traditional rulers, businesspeople, politicians, and others—converged to pay their last respects to the man described as arguably the greatest Ghanaian musician of all time.

The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, accompanied by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, led a delegation of the ruling government's party to the funeral to honour the life and legacy of the musician.

Similarly, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi; the NPP's National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, as well as the party’s flagbearer aspirant, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, among others, also graced the ceremony.

Also in attendance were businessmen, Osei Kwame Despite, Dr Ernest Ofori Sarpong, and others.

Legal hurdles

The final funeral rites of the legend came off after three legal suits filed at the courts in Kumasi and Accra were dealt with.

Two of the cases were interlocutory injunctions that sought to delay the funeral beyond last Saturday. The other case was to determine who had the right to perform the widowhood rites.

Sea of mourners

Heroes Park, the centre of attraction, was flooded with a sea of mourners clad mostly in red and black, with some arriving as early as 7:00 a.m. in T-shirts emblazoned with the image of the late musician.

The remains of Daddy Lumba lying in state Pictures: EMMANUEL BAAH

Amid the sobering scenes paying tribute to Lumba, the event also created economic opportunities, as traders capitalised on the sale of memorabilia bearing his likeness.

Nonetheless, it was a solemn and emotional moment as the casket lay in state for members of the public and dignitaries to file past and bid farewell to the celebrated musician.

The funeral featured live performances by both established and emerging artistes, who rendered some of the music icon’s timeless songs.

Performances

The most significant moment came when Nana Acheampong, with whom Lumba formed the Lumba Brothers duo, mounted the stage to perform.

His rendition of songs he recorded with Daddy Lumba stirred deep emotions among the mourners.

Around 11:40 a.m., when the loudspeakers blared one of the late musician’s most emotional songs titled Makra Mo (Goodbye), which featured on his sixth album Biribi Gyegye Wo released in 1993, the reality of Lumba’s journey to eternity became unmistakably clear.

The song was a soulful expression of mortality, where Daddy Lumba told his fans to enjoy every moment with him while he was alive and not to weep when he was no more.

The moment the song was played and the master of the ceremony asked mourners to wave their hands to bid the musician farewell before the body was carried into a waiting hearse, many of them, who could not hold back their emotions, wept bitterly.

As one such mourner wiped his tears with a handkerchief, he said, “This is a very difficult moment for me. Daddy Lumba should have lived longer. My icon died too early”.

Burial service

The public burial service commenced around 10:20 a.m. after a Christian prayer.

The ceremony nearly turned into a music festival as the mourners jammed to every song of the late musician, either performed live or played by the disc jockey.

As tributes were read by his family, one of the wives, children, fans, staff and well-wishers, one message that stood out was that he was a great musician, a recognition he earned through consistency, innovation and enduring relevance in the Ghanaian music industry.

President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC donated GH¢50,000 to support the funeral arrangements.

Similarly, former Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, also contributed GH¢50,000, while the NPP donated GH¢100,000 toward the event.

Tributes

One of his wives, Priscilla Ofori—popularly known as “Odo Broni”—in a tribute read on her behalf, described Daddy Lumba as a king who treated her like a queen and gave her a family and a life filled with joy.

She said, “My husband, my king and my eternal love. Though you are gone from this world, you remain etched in my soul”, and pledged to carry Daddy Lumba’s legacy, protect his name and honour the truth of their bond.

“Rest well, my lion king. Rest, knowing that your ‘Odo Broni’ will never let your story be forgotten,” she further stated.

His first wife, Akosua Serwaa, was not present, although her children graced the occasion.

Tribute by children

In an emotional tribute, the children described their father as an extraordinary human being who lived with an intensity that many heard in his music but very few truly understood.

They said his spirit, discipline, complexity and brilliance, rooted in both his nature and experiences, gave depth to the man he became.

They said “he carried a gift so vast that it rose beyond the quiet edges of where his story began long before life gave him the room to rise”.

They described him as attentive, protective, playful and wise, and added that although his passing had created a silence that words could not fully describe, the echo of his presence spoke louder than ever.

“I am proud to bear your name. I am honoured to continue your story and equally grateful beyond measure for the privilege of having been loved by you in the ways only you could love,” one of them stated.