Daddy Lumba Dies: Why Highlife Legend Was Named Kwadwo Even Though He Wasn't Born on Monday

Daddy Lumba Dies: Why Highlife Legend Was Named Kwadwo Even Though He Wasn't Born on Monday

  • Daddy Lumba was not born on a Monday, as his official name, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, suggests
  • In an interview before his passing, Lumba stated that he was a Tuesday-born, but only took the Kwadwo name because of his father
  • The late highlife legend explained that the name Kwadwo Fosu had become the name for all males in the family

Daddy Lumba's official name, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, is one of the most widely known celebrity names in Ghana.

Per Akan naming customs, Lumba's name suggests he was born on a Monday. But that was far from it.

Daddy Lumba
Daddy Lumba is a Tuesday-born who birthday falls on September 29, 2025. Photo source: realdaddylumba
Source: Instagram

Daddy Lumba wasn't born on Monday

The highlife music icon was born on September 29, 1964, which fell on a Tuesday. Lumba confirmed he was born on a Tuesday and shared the reason behind his use of Kwadwo.

In a video that resurfaced after Daddy Lumba's passing on Saturday, July 26, 2025, he indicated that even though he was born on a Tuesday, he had to use Kwadwo because his father named him after himself. Lumba's late father, a teacher by profession, was known as Johnson Kwadwo Fosu.

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"I am Kwabena (Tuesday born) oo, but my father named me after himself, Kwadwo Fosu. So all my children are also known as Kwadwo Fosu even if you are born on a Friday," he said.

Watch Lumba's explanation in the TikTok video below:

Following Lumba's passing, his longtime friend and confidante, E.T. Akonor, also shed some light on Lumba's name, which does not follow typical Akan naming conventions as many have assumed.

According to him, Lumba decided to use Kwadwo Fosu as a compound surname

"Lumba is a Tuesday-born. He is Kwabena," Akonor explained. "The Kwadwo Fosu is a compound surname of his father, so he would have been Kwabena Kwadwo Fosu which would have been odd so they just gave him Charles Kwadwo Fosu," he told Graphic Showbiz.

Daddy Lumba's life, career and legacy

Born in Nsuta in the Ashanti Region as the only son of J.K. Fosu and Comfort Gyamfi, a.k.a. Ama Saah, also of blessed memory, Lumba rose from obscurity to become one of Ghana's biggest musicians ever.

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He started singing in his childhood and was the leader of Juaben Senior High School choir from 1983 until he completed in 1985. At Juaben SHS, he formed the Lumba Brothers group with two male friends and his then-girlfriend, Theresa Abebrese.

Upon completion of his secondary school education, Lumba travelled to Germany with the help of Abebrese. He met Ernest Nana Acheampong, who was already playing in a band in Germany. Through their meeting, Lumba, who was only a gospel singer, experimented with highlife and never looked back.

The two picked the old Lumba Brothers name when they decided to form a group and released their debut album, Yɛɛyɛ Aka Akwantuo Mu in 1989. Recorded in 1986, the album was not released until three years later due to financial constraints. Lumba's wife, Akosua Serwaa, produced the album.

Nana Acheampong, Daddy Lumba
Nana Acheampong and Daddy Lumba perform at the KAB FM Legends Night in 2023 in what would now be their last performance together. Photo source: KAB FAM Ghana
Source: Instagram

After the maiden album, Lumba went solo and released over 30 albums, many of which are critically acclaimed and commercially acclaimed. Among his many hit songs are Aben Wo Ha, Tokrom, Makramo, Ye Nea Woho Betowo, and Bribi Gyegye Wo.

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Daddy Lumba's first wife arrives in Ghana

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Daddy Lumba's first wife, Akosua Serwaa, had arrived in Ghana from her base in Germany following his passing.

She was accompanied by businessman Kennedy Agyapong (Kenpong) and others to visit Lumba's residence.

Photos of Akosua Serwaa, which emerged online upon her visit, earned her admiration among social media users.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Jeffrey Owusu-Mensah avatar

Jeffrey Owusu-Mensah (HOD Entertainment) Jeffrey is the Head of the Entertainment Desk and a graduate of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) with over 10 years of experience in journalism. He started as a reporter with Ghana News Agency (GNA). He joined Primnewsghana.com in 2016 as an editor. He moved to YEN.com.gh in 2017 as an editor and has risen to his current position. You can contact him via e-mail: j.owusu-mensah@yen.com.gh

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