Daddy Lumba was laid to rest on December 13, 2025 but his first wife was not present at his funeral
Ghanaian MC and creative personality, David Adjei Frimpong, popularly known as MC Portfolio, has criticised the absence of one of the surviving spouses, namely Akosua Serwaa, at the funeral of the late Highlife legend, Daddy Lumba, describing it as a “cultural blunder.”
Speaking on Starr Showbiz with Feeling Daddy on Starr 103.5 FM on Saturday, December 13, 2025, MC Portfolio emphasised the importance of the surviving spouse’s presence in Akan funeral traditions, stating that, “And also, to see that one of the survivors is completely absent from the whole funeral, that is… this is weird… I mean, culturally, I don’t know how culturally. Because obviously, we have always said that the Kuna [Widowhood right] goes beyond the sharing of properties or claiming of spousal, whatever.”
According to him, by tradition, the surviving spouses are supposed to be active from the very dawn of the body’s arrival till 6 o’clock. “That is how our tradition has been. You have to be visibly present at every detail,” he said.
He added that the surviving spouse’s role goes beyond mere attendance, highlighting its spiritual and cultural significance. “Your presence is equally as essential as the arrival of the body… at the time people are showing condolences till the very time the whole funeral has been dropped. So, for her [Akosua Serwaa] to be missing in action at around this very important moment, I don’t know what tradition is based on,” MC Portfolio stated.
Describing the absence as more than a personal choice, he stressed that it contravenes Akan cultural norms. “Your absence is culturally… a cultural blunder. Your absence connotes something that is against Akan tradition. Irrespective of how you may disagree, one thing is, your Kuna [Widowhood] right is a must. You just have to be present. You may decide not to be so active or participate in the way that you want to. But it’s a must for you to be there for the sake of the cultural essence of your presence. And to see ‘Maame Akosua Serwaa’ completely missing on a date that has been unanimously agreed by the family, it raises eyebrows. And I don’t know the aftermath of this.”
MC Portfolio acknowledged that the family’s decisions ultimately govern funeral proceedings but warned that overlooking such traditions could have serious consequences.
“In as much as we want to accept that Lumba is a national treasure, we also have to respect culture. That he is from a family first, before becoming a national icon. And so, the decision of the family stands paramount,” he added, while making it clear that cultural responsibilities still carry weight.
