In this post, we reveal the key facts and secrets behind the iconic name, Daddy Lumba.

Daddy Lumba was born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, but few people called him by his birth name, either in the music world or in his personal life. The story behind his stage name was known by only a select few.

One of the few who knew the full story is Mr. Fred Kyei Mensah, also known as Fredyma. He is a music producer who knew Daddy Lumba from their secondary school days.

What is the Secret Behind Daddy Lumba’s Stage Name?

According to his account, Ghana’s Highlife legend got his iconic name while they were still in secondary school.

He revealed that the name “Lumba” was derived from Patrice Lumumba, the former leader of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was in power during Daddy Lumba’s school days.

But we felt there was more to the story than simply adopting the leader’s name, so we investigated further.

We found that Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, got the name as a student at Juaben Secondary School.

The name originated from a historic music performance there. At Juaben Secondary School, Lumba was part of the school’s choir. During one of the choir’s great performances, they performed a song about Patrice Lumumba.

The performance was so inspiring that it left a lasting impression on the students and on Daddy Lumba, who was a key singer when the choir sang the song.

According to Mr. Fred Kyei Mensah, the song about Patrice Lumumba had three themes: strength, leadership, and purpose. He added that the song resonated deeply with Daddy Lumba, reflecting the qualities that would come to define his own musical journey.

“The song about Patrice Lumumba stayed with him. It symbolized strength, leadership, and purpose—qualities that mirrored his own journey,” Mr. Fred Kyei Mensah added.

The qualities of Patrice Lumumba as a leader and the ideals he stood for compelled Charles Kwadwo Fosu to create a unique identity from it, which led to him adopting “Lumba” from the name Patrice Lumumba for his music career.

As the years passed and his music career flourished, he matured into a great singer and performer both at home and abroad. He decided to upgrade the name from “Lumba” to “Daddy Lumba.”

He added “Daddy” to his name to signify maturity, fatherhood, and a deeper connection with his audience. This addition cemented his status as a beloved figure in Ghanaian music, and “Daddy Lumba” became a household name.

Sadly, he died on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at the Bank Hospital in Accra after a brief illness.

Undoubtedly, his name is an integral part of Ghana’s highlife music history, and his legacy continues to inspire generations of musicians and fans alike. However, there is controversy, as Ghanaians are divided on whether the iconic Daddy Lumba deserves a state burial. >>> READ this>> Daddy Lumba does not deserve any state burial