Entertainment
Thousands ‘celebrate’ Daddy Lumba at national candlelight vigil
The Independence Square in Accra was on Saturday night transformed into a glowing sea of candles as thousands gathered to pay tribute to the late highlife icon, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba.
The national candlelight vigil, held just days after his passing on July 26 at age 60, brought together fans, government officials, cultural figures, and musicians to celebrate a man whose music spanned generations and defined Ghana’s musical identity.
Organised by the Creative Arts Agency (CAA), the solemn evening was rich in emotion and symbolism. Two symbolic candles were lit-one on behalf of the President and another by the Ghana Tourism Authority, signifying national honour and gratitude.
A large portrait of the music legend was unveiled amid applause and visible emotion from the crowd.
Throughout the night, the square resonated with live music, poetry, and heartfelt tributes.
Highlife veterans Kwabena Kwabena and Pat Thomas performed emotional renditions of collaborative hits with Lumba, including Obi Ate Meso Buo (Remix) and Ahenfo Kyiniye.
The vigil also featured appearances by spoken-word artists, choral groups, and cultural troupes, while prominent personalities from the creative industry including Sarkodie, Stacy Amoateng, and Emelia Brobbey joined the thousands to honour Lumba’s legacy.
Family members, friends, and public figures offered deeply personal and official tributes.
A message read on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama described Lumba as ‘a national icon’ whose music and legacy ‘remain with us’.
His second wife, Priscilla Ofori-Atta, in a tribute read on her behalf, reflected on their shared life. It said “You were my protector, my joy, my home. Now the silence feels unbearable. The studio is quiet. But your legacy, it sings on.”
His children also paid tribute, thanking the public for their support, saying “Without your love and loyalty, he wouldn’t have become Daddy Lumba.”
MUSIGA President, Bessa Simons called him a cultural mirror: adding that his music didn’t just reflect Ghana; it was Ghana.”
The attendees, many dressed in black, held candles that lit up the entire square in a striking visual tribute. Branded T-shirts and paraphernalia featuring the late icon were also available at the vigil.
The vigil served not only as a farewell but also a celebration, a reminder that Daddy Lumba’s voice and message will continue to echo in the hearts of Ghanaians for generations to come.
BY Stephanie Birikorang