Former Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, has shared heartfelt reflections on the late Daddy Lumba. He described the highlife legend as both enigmatic and eccentric—qualities that made him hard to fully understand, even for those who worked closely with him.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, July 28, Mr. Okraku-Mantey said,
“Lumba—I don’t think anyone in the industry can confidently say, ‘I really know him.’ I’d like to meet the person who claims they do.”
Although their relationship was strictly professional, Okraku-Mantey noticed Lumba’s unusual nature early on. He remarked that off the job, the artist showed a “love-me-or-hate-me” personality. This duality made Lumba both admirable and, at times, difficult to approach.
According to Okraku-Mantey, many people admired Lumba from a distance. However, those who interacted with him more personally may have had mixed feelings.
“I’m sure some people who worked with him and are hearing all the praise now are wondering, ‘Is this the same Lumba we knew?’” he said.
He explained that the artist could be firm and demanding when necessary, but also warm and generous when he chose to be.
Mr. Okraku-Mantey recalled a memorable line Lumba once used on his radio station, DL FM:
“Makra mo, abia na mu ehu me biom”—which translates as, “Goodbye, perhaps you may never see me again.”
This phrase originally appeared on Lumba’s Biribi Gyegye Wo album, released around the time he graduated from St. Augustine’s College. It reflected his tendency to keep a part of himself hidden from the public.
Describing Lumba as an “eccentric performer,” Okraku-Mantey suggested that such characteristics are common among truly outstanding artists.
“Most great performers are eccentric. You need that kind of mind to become as great as they are. It’s not easy to understand people like that,” he noted.
Daddy Lumba passed away on Saturday, July 26, at the Bank Hospital in Accra following a short illness. His death marks the end of an era in Ghanaian highlife music. As tributes pour in, the mystery of his personality continues to fascinate fans and colleagues alike.