Fresh tensions have emerged within the family of late Highlife legend Daddy Lumba over arrangements for the first anniversary of his passing, with two rival factions disagreeing over whether the commemoration should go ahead.
The disagreement, which comes almost a year after the musician's death on July 26, 2025, centres on who has the legitimate authority to organise activities in his honour, including a one-year anniversary celebration and customary family rites.
Victor Kofi Owusu, popularly known as Abusuapanyin Tupac, who previously served as the head of the Ekuona Family but whose position is currently being disputed, disclosed in an interview with veteran musician Slimbuster that preparations are underway to mark Daddy Lumba's one-year anniversary on July 26, 2026.
According to him, the planned activities will not only commemorate the late musician but will also include the performance of traditional customary rites for Odo Broni, the widow who observed the customary widowhood rites following Daddy Lumba's passing.
Abusuapanyin Tupac stated that he would not allow anyone to disrupt either the anniversary celebration or the customary rites as he believes happened during Daddy Lumba's burial.
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He insisted that no individual or group would be permitted to interfere with the scheduled activities and maintained that the events would proceed as planned.
“I will not allow such incidents to happen again, where people come and disrupt our activities. Anyone who is ready for us to work together is welcome, but if you're not, don't make any attempt to interfere. I will not allow someone who is not part of the family to appear out of nowhere and threaten me or anyone else. I am not afraid of anyone,” he warned.
Tupac further insisted that no one would tarnish the reputation of the family he claims to lead, reiterating that no individual or group could prevent the planned one-year anniversary celebration from taking place.
“Some people set up cameras solely to tarnish our family's name, but no one can destroy our reputation, and no one can stop the one-year anniversary celebration. They should be prepared because we are coming,” Tupac stated.
He further appealed to Daddy Lumba's sister, Ernestina Fosu, the late musician's wife, Akosua Serwaa, and other family members whom he believes are opposed to him to put aside their differences and return to the family fold.
According to him, everyone needs to come together as one family to honour Daddy Lumba's memory and allow him to rest in peace.
However, another faction of the family, led by Nana Kwabena Brefo, whose members of the Ekuona Family recognise as their current family head, has rejected Tupac's claims and insists that he should stop portraying himself as the head of the family because he has been destooled.
According to Nana Kwabena Brefo, matters concerning the family's leadership and authority are still before the courts, and therefore no one has the right to organise or promote any event in Daddy Lumba's name without the approval of the recognised family.
The faction further stated that, as far as they are concerned, nobody is authorised to use Daddy Lumba's name, image, likeness or initials, including "DL", for any unauthorised event or promotional activity.
Consequently, they insist that the one-year anniversary celebration which Tupac claims will take place on July 26, 2026, has neither been sanctioned nor approved by the family and therefore will not hold.
The family also questioned how a one-year anniversary celebration could be organised when, according to them, they have not been informed of the exact location where the late Highlife legend was buried.
“We have come across reports online claiming that a one-year anniversary celebration for Daddy Lumba is being planned for July 26, 2026. However, the family has not made any such arrangements. We urge the public to disregard those claims, as they are misleading.
“Wofa Opoku and Ernestina Bremponmaa are Daddy Lumba's immediate family, and they have not planned any anniversary event. The matter is still before the court, so no such celebration is taking place. Besides, if we do not even know where Daddy Lumba was buried, we cannot organise a one-year anniversary celebration for him,” Nana Kwabena Brefo said.
Daddy Lumba, born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, died on the morning of July 26, 2025, at The Bank Hospital in Cantonments, Accra, after a short illness.
The legendary Highlife musician was laid to rest at Heroes Park at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi following his final funeral rites held in December 2025.
AK/EB
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