Daddy Lumba

Daddy Lumba is a multiple award-winning Ghanaian musician with an extremely successful career spanning almost three decades^[1]. He is widely regarded as the greatest Ghanaian singer of all time.^[2]

Lumba was born Charles 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 Woho Ma Obiaa’, ‘Ohia Asem’, Emere Pa B3ba’, ‘Agya Bi Wua Agya Bi Tease’ were dedicated to her.^[3]

He is married with nine 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 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 travelled 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 constrains, 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 Yeeya aka Akwantuo Mu.

Daddy Lumba, in all, has released 33 albums.^[4] The albums include critically acclaimed and commercially successful ones like Aben Wo Ha, Awosuo, Obi Ate Me So Buo, Sika Asem and Ebi Se Ey3 Aduro.

He is currently gearing up for his 34th album, titled ‘Nipa Fo Na 3ka Nsem Fo’.^[5]

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 Wo Ho 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 came out every year with a hit album.^[6]

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^[7]. He has however denied bleaching his skin^[8].

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.

Selected discography

• Sesee Wo Se (1997)
• Woha kyere (1999)
• Poison (2001)
• Ahenfo Kyinye (2004)
• Sika (2008)
• Awoso (2014)
• Ye Nea Woho Beto Wo (2014)
• Enko den (2016)

See also

• "Yentie Obiaa"

References