Daddy Lumba and his ‘sing-alikes’ that trailblased the Ghanaian music scene

A GhanaWeb feature written by Elsie Lamar

Immersing yourself in their music through headphones, with no visual cues, it becomes a challenge to distinguish between these distinct voices.

For decades, the legendary Daddy Lumba and a host of Ghanaian musicians who echo his vocal style have graced our ears with their unique sound.

Artistes like Kofi Nti, Ofori Amponsah, the now-evangelist Papa Shee, and Dada KD, all from the Highlife genre, share a vocal quality and singing style reminiscent of Daddy Lumba.

Interestingly, some of these vocal doppelgängers, including Ofori Amponsah, were once protégés of Lumba.

Let’s take a look at the list below:

Ofori Amponsah and the Lumba influence

The musical alliance between Ofori Amponsah and Daddy Lumba, which gained recognition in the late ’90s, has yielded a plethora of hits, cementing their legacy in Ghana’s music history.

Tracks like ‘Ku me preko’, ‘Wo da a da’, ‘Odo mmra fie’, ‘Jane’, and ‘Wonkoa’ are fruits of their longstanding collaboration.

In various interviews, Ofori Amponsah acknowledged Daddy Lumba as his mentor, having learned the ropes from him before making his mark in the industry.

He has repeatedly expressed profound respect and admiration for Daddy Lumba, highlighting his impact on his musical path.

Kofi Nti’s resonance with the ‘Daddy Lumba effect’

The bond between Kofi Nti and Daddy Lumba evolved from mentorship to partnership.

Kofi Nti, whose voice bears a striking similarity to Daddy Lumba’s, now frequently shares the stage with him as a lead vocalist.

They have been seen performing together, with Kofi Nti supporting the ‘not very stage active’ Daddy Lumba.

While they haven’t collaborated on official songs, Kofi Nti, who isn’t actively recording solo tracks at the moment, often performs Daddy Lumba’s hits at their joint appearances.

Dada KD’s ‘Lumba-esque’ vocals

Listening to Dada KD’s songs might make one believe they’re hearing a Daddy Lumba track.

Songs like ‘Fatia fata Nkrumah’, ‘Ebeboawo’, ‘Obiara Se Eye’, ‘Somgye’, and ‘Mewura’ showcase the ‘Lumba-like’ vocal quality.

Though Lumba and KD haven’t worked together, the fervour in KD’s voice and his romantic delivery unmistakably align him with the musical icon.

Papa Shee’s evolution

Papa Shee, who began as Daddy Lumba’s lead dancer, transitioned into a full-fledged recording artiste, and his singing notably echoes that of his former mentor, Lumba.

His early 2000s hits such as ‘Atadwee’, ‘Koyoonsor’, ‘Atadwe’, ‘Yaa Asantewa’, and ‘Atepa’ bear testament to this influence.