A storm of controversy has erupted around the planned burial of Ghanaian highlife icon, Charles Kojo Fosu—better known to music fans across West Africa as Daddy Lumba. In an unexpected twist, his wife and children have launched legal action to block the current funeral and burial arrangements, accusing extended family members and the event’s organizers of locking them out of key decisions.
According to statements attributed to the immediate family, the date for Daddy Lumba’s final funeral rites—set for Saturday, 6 December 2025—was allegedly fixed without the involvement or approval of his legal spouse, Mrs. Akosua Serwah Fosuh, or their children. For Nigerian and West African audiences, this sort of family dispute is not unfamiliar, especially where legacy, inheritance, and public figures are involved. The issue has struck a chord across the region, with many asking: who has the final say in burying a national treasure?
In a statement released on Thursday, 9 October 2025, the family said they first learned of the funeral planning “on social media,” which left them “deeply distressed.” They accused Abusuapanyin Kofi Wusu and the funeral committee of pushing forward with plans that allegedly serve their own interests rather than honoring the wishes and well-being of Daddy Lumba’s immediate relatives.
The family stated:
Hearing about your own husband’s funeral plans for the first time through social media is deeply distressing. This situation clearly shows that Abusuapanyin Kofi Wusu and the funeral committee are acting in their own interests, without regard for the wishes and rights of the deceased’s direct family.
Their statement went further, strongly criticizing what they saw as a blatant act of disrespect. They described what they view as ongoing efforts to deliberately exclude Daddy Lumba’s closest kin from all funeral- and legacy-related conversations. As the family’s official communique reportedly put it:
On 8 October 2025, Abusuapanyin Kofi Wusu granted an interview in which he publicly announced a funeral date for Mr Fosuh without consulting Mrs Akosua Serwah Fosuh (the legal wife) or their children. This action shows a complete lack of respect for the immediate family, who must make appropriate preparations before travelling to Ghana for the funeral.
The family’s concerns reportedly did not start with the funeral announcement. Since the passing of Daddy Lumba, they allege there has been “a continuous and deliberate effort to marginalise Mrs. Akosua Serwah Fosuh, the wedded wife, in all funeral-related decisions.” This, they argue, is not just a family matter but one that offends cultural and moral norms in Ghana and broader West Africa, where tradition emphasizes the centrality of the nuclear family in final rites. Adding another layer to the unfolding saga, the family emphasized that the official cause of the musician’s death is still under review.
The statement outlines that Mr. Charles Kwadwo Fosuh held citizenship in the Federal Republic of Germany and that his marriage to Mrs. Akosua Serwah Fosuh was officially registered on 23 December 2004, in Bornheim, Germany. The family points out that under German law, as in most jurisdictions worldwide, an individual in a legally valid marriage cannot engage in another legally recognized union. This legal angle resonates in Nigeria and across West Africa, where legal and customary marriages frequently intersect and at times conflict, complicating estate planning and funeral arrangements for public figures.
Confirming their recourse to the courts, the family concluded:
Due to the confusion and lack of proper communication from the funeral committee, the direct family has filed an injunction on both the funeral date and the burial arrangements until proper dialogue and consensus are achieved.
The Broader Conversation: Tradition vs Law in African Celebrity Funerals
Funeral disputes like this aren’t new to West Africa. In both Nigeria and Ghana, high-profile figures’ burials often turn into legal contests, merging cultural, legal, and family expectations. Similar controversies have surfaced after the deaths of famous Nigerian musicians, actors, and politicians—whose estates and legacies are frequently contested “in the court of public opinion,” as Lagos-based cultural analyst Bukola Ajayi explains. The heart of the matter is: Who rightfully steers a legend’s last journey?
For many families, the stakes are high—public perception, inheritance, and cultural rites all hang in the balance. Moreover, such disputes often prompt calls for clearer legal frameworks around the funerals of prominent figures, especially those with international ties, dual citizenship, or mixed customary and statutory marriages.
Legal and Cultural Implications for Nigerians and West Africans
In Nigeria, as in Ghana, traditional heads and extended family members often play leading roles in burial planning, sometimes sparking friction with spouses and children. However, as legal systems evolve and more families spread across continents, courts are increasingly called upon to intervene. Legal experts in Lagos emphasize that the primacy of marriage under the law should not be set aside for custom, particularly when property, rights, or the wishes of the deceased are in question.
This has prompted some lawmakers and cultural leaders to advocate for clearer pre-written wills and advanced directives regarding burial and funeral wishes—something that is gradually gaining traction among Nigeria’s elite.
Public Reactions and Lessons for Celebrity Estates in Africa
Social media across Ghana and Nigeria has buzzed with reactions to Daddy Lumba’s family dispute. Many fans express disappointment that the internal disagreements have spilled into the public arena, affecting the legacy of an icon whose music united generations.
Experts and commentators urge all parties involved to seek a respectful compromise, mindful of both cultural values and the law. The situation further highlights a pressing need for more robust estate planning and open family communication to prevent such disputes, especially for public figures whose lives—and deaths—hold deep meaning for so many.
Global and Diaspora Perspective
As African music and culture continue to capture global attention, the world also watches how the continent navigates the transition and memorialization of its most beloved stars. For those in the West African diaspora, including Nigerians and Ghanaians in Europe or the US, these stories echo personal experiences of balancing legal, cultural, and emotional realities when tragedy strikes.
Ultimately, how the courts rule—and how the involved families respond—could shape best practices for not only honoring legends but also ensuring their wishes, and those of their immediate loved ones, are respected well beyond the headlines.
What’s Next?
As the legal process unfolds and Daddy Lumba’s family awaits clarity, many are reflecting on the broader issues raised. Should African celebrity funerals be governed primarily by tradition, or should the law take precedence? And how can future disputes be prevented?
What do you think about this ongoing dispute — should funeral decisions center on immediate family or extended kin? How can Nigerian and West African families better plan for the unexpected? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and stay with us for more on this developing story.
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