Members of the maternal family of late highlife legend Daddy Lumba have issued a strong warning to the family head, known as the Abusuapanyin, demanding that he present the musician’s body to them.
According to reports, the family cautioned that “something bad could happen” if Kofi Owusu, who serves as the Abusuapanyin of the musician’s family, fails to bring the body for them to see. The warning was reportedly made during a gathering of relatives who expressed frustration over what they described as a lack of transparency surrounding the handling of the late musician’s remains.
The relatives insist that as members of the maternal lineage, they have the traditional right to be informed and involved in matters concerning the funeral and burial arrangements of the deceased. They therefore expect the Abusuapanyin to ensure that the body is presented to them before any further decisions are taken regarding the burial.
The dispute is the latest development in the ongoing family tensions following the death of Daddy Lumba, whose real name was Charles Kwadwo Fosu. The celebrated musician died in July 2025, leaving behind a major legacy in Ghana’s highlife music industry.
The conflict over the handling of his remains and funeral arrangements has been ongoing for months. In December 2025, an Accra High Court even halted plans for the musician’s funeral after the maternal family filed a legal challenge, arguing that they had been excluded from the planning process.
Relatives maintain that they must be fully involved in the final rites, which they say are deeply rooted in Ghanaian customary traditions that recognise the authority of the maternal family in funeral matters.
The latest warning highlights the continuing disagreements among family members about how the funeral arrangements should be handled. Many observers say the situation reflects the complexities that can arise when cultural traditions, family authority, and public attention intersect following the death of a national icon.
