| Daddy Lumba | |
| Native Name Lang: | Twi |
| Birth Name: | Charles Kwadwo Fosuh |
| Birth Date: | 1964 9, df=yes |
| 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 |
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.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
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. 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.[7]
He is married with children.
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.
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 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.[8]
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.[9]
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.[10] He has however denied bleaching his skin.[11]
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.
Apart from Ofori Amponsah and Nana Acheampong, Daddy Lumba has also collaborated with Felix Owusu, Pat Thomas, Ateaa Tina, Oheneba Kissi and Afua Ampofowaa.[12] [13]
On December 23, 2022, Daddy Lumba released his long-awaited single, 'Ofon Na Edi Asem Fo'.[14]
On October 18 2023, he released a single "Nya Abotore Na Twen Awurade".
In September 2022, Daddy Lumba opened DLFM (106.9 MHz), a radio station broadcasting in Twi in the Accra area.[15] [16]