Ghanaian rapper M.anifest has reflected on the profound impact of Daddy Lumba, celebrating the late highlife icon’s unmatched musical legacy and artistic evolution.
In a July 28 interview on Channel One TV, M.anifest praised Lumba’s ability to blend talent, mystique, and lyrical depth into a body of work that has remained influential for decades.
“His music will live on. He has made great music; he’s the rare case where the legend and the mystic and the actual output of the music meet, and then it works. He was a hitmaker, but he had the lyricism. I think posterity will be kind to him, and we are all grateful for what he contributed. His DNA will not leave us anytime soon,” he said.
The rapper highlighted Lumba’s musical versatility, explaining that the artist began within the boundaries of highlife but later redefined his sound to transcend genres.
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“They might begin somewhere, but they manage to transcend genre. And I think with almost four decades of work, at least three-plus decades, Lumba literally transcended genre,” he said.
M.anifest added that Lumba’s career progression made him synonymous with innovation. “So, it became more about Daddy Lumba. You can associate him with Borga Highlife, different versions of highlife; he was prolific, he was relevant through different eras. Just like other people, at some point, they go beyond genre,” he explained.
Daddy Lumba died on July 26, 2025, following a short illness at The Bank Hospital in Cantonments, Accra.
Watch the discussion below.
