As tributes continue to pour in for highlife legend Daddy Lumba, Nana Poku Ashis, manager of musician Kwabena Kwabena, has urged a national celebration worthy of the icon’s legacy. He believes the time to honour Lumba’s cultural impact is now, before the funeral rites take place.
Speaking in an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Kwame Dadzie, Ashis appealed to events powerhouse Charterhouse to lead a major commemorative event that would bring together top Ghanaian artists to perform Lumba’s classics.
“The iconic Lumba needs a national celebration and I am urging Charterhouse to lead this campaign. Try and put together an event where we will have our stars come and honour the legend,” he said.
Ashis suggested the tribute should take the form of a large-scale concert, much like the Ghana Music Awards, featuring artistes such as Kwabena Kwabena and Fameye interpreting Lumba’s timeless songs.
“Before his burial, we should do something of that sort where we see [maybe] a Fameye or Kwabena Kwabena perform a Lumba song just like they do at the Ghana Music Awards. Even if it is a paid event, I am sure it will be a sold-out event,” he added.
Beyond the music, Ashis reflected on Daddy Lumba’s exceptional position in Ghana’s political and cultural space. He recalled a remark from a friend who noted that Lumba was the only musician successive governments “feared,” due to his fiercely independent political stance.
“He is that guy that could be with you now, the next moment he was with the other person. And nobody dared touch Lumba. Other people did political songs and they were touched but he did and nothing happened to him.”
Daddy Lumba, born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, passed away on July 26, 2025, following a brief illness. With a discography spanning over 30 albums and more than three decades of influence, he was a towering figure in highlife music. From hits like Aben Wɔha to Theresa and Yentie Obiaa, Lumba’s artistry helped redefine modern Ghanaian music.
Now, as the country grapples with his loss, calls are intensifying for a public memorial that reflects the depth of his contribution to national culture.
Watch his remarks below.
