LUMBA’S LAST GIFT: Ofori Amponsah Recalls Disbelief After Mentor’s Death — “Daddy Lumba Never Dies”

Iconic award-winning Ghanaian Highlife singer, songwriter, and producer, Samuel Ofori Amponsah struggled to believe the news when he first heard that his longtime mentor and collaborator, Daddy Lumba, had died.

Speaking to Kafui Dey, Ofori Amponsah recalled being at home when he heard the news.

“I couldn’t believe it. I said, ‘Man, you cannot be telling lies like this,’” he recalled.

His disbelief was partly because he had heard similar rumours about Lumba’s death before. But after making a phone call and receiving confirmation, the reality finally began to sink in.

“So, you know, you can’t do anything about it. It’s life,” he said.

A mentor who lived differently

Ofori Amponsah’s relationship with Lumba gave him a close look at the personality behind the music icon.

He recalled how Lumba could withdraw from people for days or even weeks, spending time in his own world before returning to work.

“He was such a lonely person,” Ofori Amponsah said.

Yet, according to him, that solitude was closely tied to Lumba’s creativity.

“He was talented, extraordinary. You just cannot describe him.”

Ofori Amponsah believes Lumba’s ability to isolate himself and concentrate on his craft played a major role in his success.

“He had this great gift,” he said. “I think that was a big factor in his rise.”

Away from the studio, the two also shared conversations about politics, radio discussions and everyday life in Ghana.

Ofori Amponsah said Lumba could be playful and open when he was around people he trusted, revealing a side of the music legend that was not always visible to the public.

But it is Lumba’s music and influence that Ofori Amponsah believes will ultimately define his legacy.

For Ofori Amponsah, the death of Daddy Lumba may have ended the life of the man, but it cannot erase the music and influence he left behind.

“Daddy Lumba never dies,” he said.

He believes Ghana could wait decades before seeing another musician capable of matching Lumba’s impact and versatility.

“He was quite dynamic, quite gifted,” Ofori Amponsah said.

And perhaps, he suggested, Lumba’s greatest gift was not any single song or performance.

It was the opportunity he gave others to learn from him, create alongside him and grow under his influence.

For Ofori Amponsah, that is a legacy that death cannot take away.