The Accra High Court has issued an injunction on the planned funeral of late highlife legend Daddy Lumba, following an application by his maternal family.
The injunction restrains the family head, Kofi Owusu, from proceeding with burial arrangements and bars Transitions Funeral Home from releasing the body until the dispute before the court is resolved.
The ruling has sparked mixed reactions in Kumasi, where preparations for the funeral—scheduled for December 13, 2025, at Heroes Park, Baba Yara Sports Stadium—were already underway. While some mourners expressed disappointment over the disruption, others welcomed the court’s decision.
The court observed that affidavits indicated the musician’s immediate family had been sidelined in the planning process. It emphasized that although the family head holds authority to lead funeral arrangements, this must be done in consultation with the immediate family.
The court directed the family head to convene a stakeholder meeting within three weeks to agree on a new burial date. It also ordered that funds raised for the funeral be separated from those of the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation, and that the applicants file an affidavit with the court registrar.
The injunction arises from a dispute between Daddy Lumba’s maternal relatives and the family head over who should oversee the funeral and manage related funds, following the musician’s passing on July 26, 2025, at age 60. The case has reignited discussions around Akan customs, which traditionally grant significant authority to the maternal lineage in burial matters.
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