Music producer Fred Kyei Mensah, popularly known as Fredyma, has shed light on the fascinating story behind how Ghana’s late Highlife legend, Daddy Lumba, got his iconic name.
In a recent interview, Fredyma recounted how Charles Kwadwo Fosu, affectionately called Daddy Lumba, adopted his stage name from a source of deep historical and personal inspiration.
According to him, the name “Lumba” was influenced by Patrice Lumumba, the revered Congolese independence hero.
While attending Juaben Secondary School, Lumba was part of a school choir that performed a song about Lumumba. The song’s message — celebrating strength, leadership, and a sense of purpose — struck a chord with the young musician.
“The song about Patrice Lumumba stayed with him. It symbolised strength, leadership, and purpose—qualities that mirrored his own journey,” Fredyma explained.
This admiration for the African revolutionary would eventually inspire Charles to adopt “Lumba” as his stage name, in honour of the man whose story had shaped his early musical consciousness.
As his career advanced, the name evolved. He added “Daddy” to “Lumba” — a symbolic representation of maturity, fatherhood, and a nurturing bond with his audience.
Over the years, “Daddy Lumba” became a name synonymous with excellence in Ghanaian Highlife music, representing an artist whose songs transcended generations and social classes.
The touching revelation comes at a time of mourning, as Ghana bids farewell to the Highlife icon, who passed away on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at the Bank Hospital in Accra after a short illness. He was 60.
Daddy Lumba’s death marks the end of an era, but his legacy — including the story behind his name — will continue to inspire musicians and fans alike for years to come.
Graphic Showbiz
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