Daddy Lumba
{{Short description|Ghanaian musician (born 1964)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| image = Daddy Lumba.jpg
| image_upright =
| image_size =
| landscape =
| name = Daddy Lumba
| alt =
| caption = Daddy Lumba performing in 2025.
Photo credit: Manuel Photography
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = Twi
| birth_name = Charles Kwadwo Fosuh
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1964|09|29}}
| birth_place = Nsuta, Ashanti Region, Ghana
| nationality = Ghanaian
| other_names = DL, Lumba
| citizenship = Ghanaian
| education = Juaben Senior High School, Adu Gyamfi Senior High School
| occupation = Musician, Producer, Songwriter, Entrepreneur
| known_for = Music
| mother = Ama Saah
| awards = Ghana Music Awards
| website =
}}
Daddy Lumba (born 29 September 1964) is a Ghanaian singer-songwriter and musician and has about 34 albums to his name. Born Charles Kwadwo Fosuh, he is widely regarded as the greatest Ghanaian musician of all time.{{Cite web|last=Effah|first=K.|date=2018-03-10|title=Lumba Tops All: 61 years of Ghana music, best artistes and songs of all time|url=https://yen.com.gh/107229-daddy-lumba-named-ghanas-greatest-musician-time.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Yen.com.gh|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310034723/https://yen.com.gh/107229-daddy-lumba-named-ghanas-greatest-musician-time.html |archive-date=10 March 2018 }}{{Cite web|date=2021-10-02|title=Daddy Lumba is the world's greatest musician – Ko-Jo Cue|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Daddy-Lumba-is-the-world-s-greatest-musician-Ko-Jo-Cue-1370827|access-date=2021-10-28|website=GhanaWeb|language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-02-02 |title=Social media users rank Daddy Lumba as Ghana's greatest - MyJoyOnline.com |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/social-media-users-rank-daddy-lumba-as-ghanas-greatest/ |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=Myjoyonline. |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Why Daddy Lumba is Ghana's Greatest Musician Of All Time - News {{!}} Mdundo.com |url=https://mdundo.com/news/35520 |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=Mdundo. |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-10 |title=Daddy Lumba is the greatest Ghanaian musician of all time- Dan Kwaku Yeboah - DLFM 106.9 |url=https://dlfmonline.com/2023/05/10/daddy-lumba-is-the-greatest-ghanaian-musician-of-all-time-dan-kwaku-yeboah/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Daddy Lumba is the greatest artiste of all time - Ras Kuuku declares |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Daddy-Lumba-is-the-greatest-artiste-of-all-time-Ras-Kuuku-declares-1889207 |website=GhanaWeb}}{{Cite web |title=Ras Kuuku Declares Daddy Lumba Ghana's Biggest Artist |url=https://www.modernghana.com/entertainment/75663/ras-kuuku-declares-daddy-lumba-ghanas-biggest.html |website=ModernGhana}}{{Cite web |title=Highlife: Daddy Lumba is the Greatest of All Time- Great Ampong |url=https://atinkaonline.com/highlife-daddy-lumba-is-the-greatest-of-all-time-great-ampong/}}{{Cite web |title=Lumba Tops All: 61 Years Of Ghana Music, Best Artistes And Songs Of All Time Announced |url=https://www.zionfelix.net/lumba-tops-61-years-ghana-music-awards-best-artistes-songs-time-winners-announced/}}{{Cite web |title=Daddy Lumba As A Course To Be Studied? |url=https://www.modernghana.com/entertainment/62813/daddy-lumba-as-a-course-to-be-studied.html}}{{Cite web |title=Daddy Lumba is the GOAT of Ghana music – Eazzy opines |url=https://gossips24.com/daddy-lumba-is-the-goat-of-ghana-music/ |website=Gossip24}}{{Cite web |title=Daddy Lumba is the world’s greatest musician – Ko-Jo Cue |url=https://yfmghana.com/daddy-lumba-is-the-worlds-greatest-musician-ko-jo-cue/}}{{Cite web |title=Kweku Darlington eyes Daddy Lumba collab, hints at retirement after working with the ‘GOAT’ |url=https://www.modernghana.com/entertainment/78731/kweku-darlington-eyes-daddy-lumba-collab-hints.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Modern Ghana |language=en}}
His father, Owoahene Kwadwo Fosuh, a teacher, died when 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.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}} Many of Daddy Lumba's songs, including "Anidasoɔ Wɔhɔ Ma Obiara", "Ohia Asɛm", "Ɛmmere Pa Bɛba", "Agya Bi Wua Agya Bi Tease", were dedicated to her.{{Cite news |date=2018-07-27 |title=Daddy Lumba Full Biography: His Wife, Children, Albums, Songs |language=en-US |work=GhanaSlayers. |url=https://ghanaslayers.com/2018/07/27/daddy-lumba-full-biography-his-wife-children-albums-songs/ |access-date=2018-08-09}}
He is married with children.
Career
Daddy Lumba's music career started at the age of 16. He was the leader of Juaben Senior High School choir from 1983 to 1984 academic year where Christabel was the music teacher and he completed in 1985. In Juaben SHS, Lumba formed the Lumba Brothers group with his friends Yaw and Kwabena and girlfriend, Theresa Abebrese.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}
After school, with the help of his girlfriend Theresa, Lumba travelled to Germany to seek greener pastures.{{When|date=January 2020}}
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 with 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 Yɛɛyɛ Aka Akwantuo Mu.
Daddy Lumba, in all, has released 33 albums. The albums include critically acclaimed ones such as Aben Wɔha, Awosuɔ, Obi Ate Me So Buɔ, Sika Asɛm and Ebi Se Ɛyɛ Aduro.
He is currently gearing up for his 34th album, titled Nnipa Fon Na Ɛka Nsɛm Fon.{{Cite web |last=Donkoh |first=Ebenezer |date=22 December 2017 |title=Kumasi Readies For Daddy Lumba Live In Concert - NYDJ Live |url=https://www.nydjlive.com/kumasi-readies-for-daddy-lumba-live-in-concert/ |access-date=2018-08-09 |website=nydjlive. |language=en-GB}}
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.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}
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.[http://www.leakxgh.com/2009/12/daddy-lumba-storms-berekum.html "Daddy Lumba Storms Berekum"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406225832/http://www.leakxgh.com/2009/12/daddy-lumba-storms-berekum.html |date=6 April 2018 }}, LeakxGH, 17 December 2009.
His solo career has not been devoid 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.modernghana.com/music/28857/daddy-lumba-we-love-you-and-your-music-but-this-bleaching.html|title=Daddy Lumba: We Love You And Your Music, But This Bleaching Must Stop|last=Dokosi|first=Michael Eli|work=Modern Ghana|date=6 January 2015|access-date=2018-08-09|language=en-gb}} He has however denied bleaching his skin.{{Cite web |date=27 October 2017 |title=Daddy Lumba not happy with Bukom Banku over bleaching comment |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Daddy-Lumba-not-happy-with-Bukom-Banku-over-bleaching-comment-594635 |access-date=2018-08-09 |website=GhanaWeb. |language=en}}
He owns his own studio where he does all his work and also owns machines for mastering, cassette duplication, loading, printing and shrink wrapping exclusively for his works. His music has evolved over the years to reflect the changes in taste and demands for music; he can currently be described as a contemporary highlife artist. Daddy Lumba has won several Ghana Music Awards and other excellence awards and continue to appeal to the young and old.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}
Apart from Ofori Amponsah and Nana Acheampong, Daddy Lumba has also collaborated with Felix Owusu, Pat Thomas, Ateaa Tina, Oheneba Kissi and Afua Ampofowaa.{{Cite web |title=Focus on Felix Owusu of Waben Fame |url=https://www.modernghana.com/blogs/432517/highlife-time-where-are-they-now-focus-on-felix-owusu-o.html}}{{Cite web |title=Meet The Female Vocalist Behind Daddy Lumba Songs |date=24 April 2021 |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Meet-Ateaa-Tina-the-Female-Vocalist-behind-most-of-Daddy-Lumba-s-songs-1241755}}
On 23 December 2022, Daddy Lumba released his long-awaited single, 'Ofon Na Edi Asem Fo'.{{Cite web |last=Music |first=Ghana |date=2022-12-23 |title=Single: Ofon Na Ɛdi Asɛm Fo by Daddy Lumba |url=https://www.ghanamusic.com/audio/out-now/2022/12/23/single-ofon-na-ɛdi-asɛm-fo-by-daddy-lumba/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Ghana Music |language=en-GB}}
On 18 October 2023, he released a single "Nya Abotore Na Twen Awurade".
Radio station
In September 2022, Daddy Lumba opened DLFM (106.9 MHz), a radio station broadcasting in Twi in the Accra area.{{Cite web |last=Agambila |first=Dorcas |date=2022-09-08 |title=Music legend Daddy Lumba establishes his own radio station, DLFM |url=https://www.pulse.com.gh/entertainment/music/music-legend-daddy-lumba-establishes-his-own-radio-station-dlfm/33ql1bl |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=Pulse Ghana |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-08 |title=Daddy Lumba opens his own radio station DLFM in Accra (Photos) |url=https://shinemegh.com/2022/09/08/daddy-lumba-opens-his-own-radio-station-dlfm-in-accra-photos/ |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=Shineme GH |language=en-US}}
Selected discography
- Yereye Aka Akwantuo Mu (with Nana Acheampong) (1989)
- Obi Ate Meso Bo (1990)
- Sika Asem (1991)
- Vida with Felix Owusu (1993)
- The Very Best Of Daddy Lumba Vol. 1 (1994)
- Mesom Jesus (1995)
- Playboy (1995)
- Biribi gyegye wo (1995)
- Hwan na Otene with Akua Serwaa Bonsu (1996)
- Sesee Wo Se (1997)
- Aben waha (1998)
- Woho kyere with Ofori Amponsah (1999)
- Ebi se ɛyɛ aduro (1999)
- Back for Good (1999)
- Aseɛ ho (with Borax) (2000)
- Mato Odo mu (2000)
- Poison (2001)
- Mɛma afa wo tirim (2002)
- Bubra (2003)
- Pa Ntoma (with Borax) (2004)
- Ahenfo Kyinye with Pat Thomas (2004)
- Area Boy (2005)
- Give peace a chance (2005)
- Tokrom (2006)
- Agenda (2007)
- Sika (2008)
- Aware Pa Ye Anibre (2009)
- Kohye Po (2011)
- Awoso (2014)
- Ye Nea Woho Beto Wo (2014)
- Hosanna with Great Ampong (2015)
- Enko den (2016)
Awards
- On 18 August 2018, he was acknowledged with an "Icon/Legend of Entertainment" award at the Exclusive Men of the Year Africa Awards (EMY Award).{{Cite web |title=2018 EMY Awards: Daddy Lumba adjudged Icon/Legend of Entertainment |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/2018-EMY-Awards-Daddy-Lumba-adjudged-Icon-Legend-of-Entertainment-677929 |access-date=2019-10-09 |website=GhanaWeb. |date=19 August 2018 |language=en}}
- 2000 Ghana Music Awards - Artist of the Year, Best Album of the Year, Most Popular Song of the Year
- 2003 Ghana Music Awards - Contemporary Highlife Artist, Contemporary Highlife Song, Contemporary Highlife Album.
- In commemoration of the 2025 commonwealth day, King Charles III listed Daddy Lumba's 'Mpempem Do Me’ song as one of his favorite tunes. The song ranked 7th out of 17 songs on the king Charles' "the kings music room" playlist on Apple music.{{Cite web |last=says |first=Patrick Donkor |date=2025-03-10 |title=King Charles III lists Daddy Lumba’s song on his Commonwealth Day Playlist |url=https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/news/king-charles-iii-2/2025/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Daddy Lumba’s ‘Mpempem Do Me’ featured in King Charles’ playlist - MyJoyOnline |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/daddy-lumbas-mpempem-do-me-featured-in-king-charles-playlist/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2025-03-10 |title=Daddy Lumba’s 'Mpempem Do Me' featured on King Charles' Apple playlist |url=https://citinewsroom.com/2025/03/daddy-lumbas-mpempem-do-me-featured-on-king-charles-apple-playlist/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ghartey |first=Raphael |date=2025-03-10 |title=Daddy Lumba’s ‘Mpempem Do Me’ features in King Charles III’s playlist |url=https://3news.com/showbiz/daddy-lumbas-mpempem-do-me-features-in-king-charles-iiis-playlist/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |language=en-GB}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.facebook.com/DaddyLumbaOfficial/ Daddy Lumba on Facebook]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lumba, Daddy}}
Category:Ghanaian highlife musicians
Category:20th-century Ghanaian male singers