As the nation mourns the loss of highlife icon Daddy Lumba, Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has appealed to the public and media to give his grieving family the privacy they deserve.
During a condolence visit to the late musician’s home, Gomashie emphasized the need for compassion amid national sorrow. “This is a difficult time for the family, and we must all show compassion by respecting their privacy,” she said. “His passing is a huge loss to the creative community and to the nation.”
Born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, Daddy Lumba passed away on July 26, 2025, at the age of 60. His death has left a deep void in the music world and ignited a flood of tributes from fans, artists, and public figures.
Reflecting on his immense cultural impact, Gomashie described him as a towering figure whose contributions helped shape Ghana’s musical identity. “His passing is a huge loss to the creative community and to the nation,” she reiterated, praising his unmatched influence on the golden age of highlife music.
Gomashie also revealed that the late singer had been lined up for a central role in a forthcoming national highlife festival being organized by her ministry. The event, which aimed to spotlight Ghana’s musical heritage, was expected to showcase Daddy Lumba’s artistry on a grand scale.
“Losing him at such a time is heartbreaking,” she said. “We were planning something big that he would have been proud of and actively involved in.”
The highlife festival is part of a broader cultural agenda that includes efforts to have highlife music and Kete recognized by UNESCO as part of Ghana’s intangible cultural heritage. This initiative seeks to safeguard traditional forms of artistic expression for future generations.
With funeral preparations underway, Gomashie reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that Daddy Lumba’s legacy is preserved with the dignity it deserves. She noted that the creative sector would continue to honour the life and work of Charles Kwadwo Fosu, a man whose voice and stories defined decades of Ghanaian sound.
