From R2Bees to Bree Runway, here’s how today’s artists are flipping Daddy Lumba’s legendary highlife classics into contemporary hits.
The Ghanaian music world is still reeling from the loss of a legend. The recent passing of Daddy Lumba, widely regarded as Ghana’s greatest-ever musician, marks the end of an era, but not the end of his influence. With a staggering discography spanning over 30 albums, the legend has shaped and reshaped the soundscape of the nation across generations. His influence has transcended genres, styles, and borders, echoing through speakers from Kumasi through Hamburg to Camden.
In a world of ever-evolving genres and globalized sound, Daddy Lumba’s fingerprints remain everywhere. Whether subtly referenced or boldly reimagined, his melodies, themes, and aura continue to inspire. For Ghanaian artists and the diaspora alike, Lumba isn’t just a legend—he’s a living library of inspiration.
Even in his absence, Lumba’s voice, melodies, and magic live on, echoing through the work of today’s biggest and boldest acts. From Afrobeats to trap, pop to grime, modern artists continue to draw from their deep well of sonic brilliance.
Here are 10 modern hits that were either directly inspired by or sampled from Daddy Lumba’s classics. Each one is a testament to the timelessness of his art.
1. R2Bees – Eboso (2021)
Daddy Lumba – Se Wo Da Ento Pono Mu
Released as the lead single off their Back To Basics album, Eboso is R2Bees at their most nostalgic. Produced by DJ Breezy, the track draws heavily from the Burger Highlife era that Lumba helped define, sampling his romantic classic Se Wo Da Ento Pono Mu. The result? A smooth, retro-leaning groove with unmistakable modern flair.
2. Wendy Shay – Psycho (2024)
Daddy Lumba – Mensei Da (Harry)
Wendy Shay’s Psycho, released earlier this year, is all about walking away from an unrequited love. But pay close attention—those melodies sound familiar for a reason. Shay weaves in elements from the remix of Daddy Lumba’s Mensei Da (Harry), using his emotive framework to deliver a defiant breakup anthem.
3. Ebony Reigns ft. Gatdoe – Poison (2017)
Daddy Lumba – Poison
This one’s a direct tribute. Ebony’s 2017 smash Poison lifts both its title and melodic essence from Daddy Lumba’s original hit of the same title. With a bouncy Afro-pop upgrade, she transforms the ‘90s highlife tune into a bold, radio-ready record that still oozes Lumba’s original charm.
4. Joey B – Princess (2024)
Daddy Lumba – Mensei Da
Joey B is no novice when it comes to flipping highlife classics, and Princess, his 2024 release, proves just that. Sampling Mensei Da, he cleverly fuses vintage melodies with modern rap sensibilities, resulting in a song that nods to the past without ever sounding stuck in it.
5. Yaa Pono – 1997 (2020)
Daddy Lumba – Made In Ghana
In 1997, Yaa Pono takes a soulful stroll down memory lane, reflecting on the music that raised him. The song loosely samples Lumba’s Made In Ghana, channeling the Burger Highlife era through a modern lens, complete with bars that blend introspection and cultural pride.
6. Lord Paper & Bosom P-Yung – Asabone (2020)
Daddy Lumba – Ankwanoma
Two of Ghana’s most unpredictable new-gen artists, Lord Paper and Bosom P-Yung, joined forces in 2020 for Asabone—a quirky, chaotic celebration of Highlife’s golden age. The track samples Daddy Lumba’s Ankwanoma, blending it with experimental flair and offbeat swagger. Somehow, it works!
7. Wusu & Team Salut – Lumba (2016)
Inspired by: Daddy Lumba – Aben Wo Ha
You don’t name a song Lumba unless you’re bringing the heat, and that’s exactly what Wusu and Team Salut did in 2016. This UK banger flips Lumba’s most iconic track, Aben Wo Ha, into a club-ready anthem, even re-enacting those legendary dance moves in the music video.
9. Ninj & Kraze (CXCV) – Half Jamo Half Ghana (2016)
Daddy Lumba – Aben Wo Ha
CXCV, a London-based creative collective, blurred genre lines with this 2016 gem. On Half Jamo Half Ghana, Ninj & Kraze ride a StevieBBeatz production built around a well-flipped Aben Wo Ha sample. Over this colourful sonic backdrop, the duo reflect on their dual heritage—half Jamaican, half Ghanaian—with bars that bounce between grime and Highlife.
9. NSG – No Jamo Full Ghana (2016)
Daddy Lumba – Aben Wo Ha
NSG’s track is a cheeky answer to CXCV’s effort. If Ninj & Kraze are half Jamo, NSG proudly reps No Jamo Full Ghana. Also released in 2016, the track lightly flips the same Aben Wo Ha sample but goes in a more hard-hitting rap direction. It’s playful, patriotic, and proof that everyone wants a piece of Lumba’s magic.
10. Bree Runway – +233 Girls Freestyle (2025)
Inspired by: Daddy Lumba – Dangerous
British-Ghanaian genre shapeshifter Bree Runway served a cultural moment earlier this year with her +233 Girls freestyle for Ghana’s Independence Day. Amid the bars and bravado, she samples Lumba’s Dangerous, tying her pop-star cool to her Ghanaian roots in a way that’s subtle yet powerful.
