Ghanaian rapper M.anifest has paid glowing tribute to the late highlife legend Daddy Lumba, describing him as a rare artist whose influence will echo across generations.
In an interview on Channel One TV on July 28, M.anifest reflected on Lumba’s lasting impact, commending the way he fused lyrical depth, mystique, and mass appeal to create timeless music.
“His music will live on. He has made great music; he’s the rare case where the legend and the mystic and the actual output of the music meet, and then it works. He was a hitmaker, but he had the lyricism. I think posterity will be kind to him, and we are all grateful for what he contributed. His DNA will not leave us anytime soon,” he remarked.
The rapper, also known as M.Dot, emphasized Lumba’s ability to evolve beyond the confines of highlife, noting that his artistry defied categorization over the years.
“They might begin somewhere, but they manage to transcend genre. And I think with almost four decades of work, at least three-plus decades, Lumba literally transcended genre,” he noted.
For M.anifest, Lumba’s legacy isn’t just about his music, it’s about how he shaped an identity that became instantly recognizable.
“So, it became more about Daddy Lumba. You can associate him with Borga Highlife, different versions of highlife; he was prolific, he was relevant through different eras. Just like other people, at some point, they go beyond genre,” he added.
Daddy Lumba passed on at The Bank Hospital in Cantonments, Accra on July 26, 2025, after a brief illness.
Watch a video of the discussion below.
