Latest news with #Sarkodie
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Greatest in 100 years': Ghana mourns music legend Daddy Lumba
Ghanaians are mourning one of the country's best known singers, Charles Kojo Fosu, known as Daddy Lumba, who has died aged 60. A statement from the family of the legendary highlife artist said he died in hospital on Saturday after a short illness. Daddy Lumba, whose musical career spanned almost four decades, "was a cultural icon and his music touched countless lives", the statement said. Kofi Okyere-Darko, director of diaspora affairs at the office of the president, described Daddy Lumba as "the greatest from Ghana in the last 100 years". Daddy Lumba inspired many young Ghanaian musicians to pursue highlife music - a genre synonymous with the country. He is credited with 33 albums and more than 200 songs over his long career, touching on themes such as love, forgiveness, beauty, money, death and other social themes. President John Mahama paid tribute to him on Sunday with a post on Facebook. "Lumba's unmatched musical genius provided the soundtrack to our lives, carrying us through various phases of life," he wrote. "The beats to his memorable songs may have died down, but his enduring legacy will echo through the ages." Meanwhile former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said "his passing is indeed a huge blow not only to the music fraternity but the entire country". Fellow artists such as Sarkodie, Guru, Sista Afia, were among the first to send condolences to the bereaved family, eulogising the "incredible talent he shared with the world". Lumba last held a public concert to mark Valentine's Day on 15 February 2025 to celebrate love, sharing the stage with some of Ghana's brightest musicians, with many of the country's politicians and influential people in attendance. Earlier this month, he met President Mahama at an event organised for senior citizens at the seat of government as part of celebrations to mark the Republic Day holiday. He had been due to go on tour to the US and Canada later this year. His most celebrated albums include Sika Sem, Aben Wo Ha, Wo Ho Kyere, Awosoo, Give Peace A Chance and Ahenfue Kyinkye. His most recent song, Ofon Na Edi Asem Fo, was released in December 2022. Who was Daddy Lumba? Lumba, born on 29 September 1964 in the town of Nsuta in Ghana's Ashanti region, began his music journey in the early 1980s. He got his stage name Lumba when he composed the song Lumba Lumba, which he dedicated to the freedom fighters of South Africa, according to his official website. Daddy Lumba travelled to Germany and teamed up with fellow highlife musician Nana Acheampong and the duo became known as the Lumba Brothers. They released their first official album, Yee Ye Aka Akwantuom, in 1986 - the song of the same name captures the struggles of Ghanaian immigrants in Europe searching for a better life. After the pair fell out and split, Daddy Lumba launched a solo career and released his first album Obi Ate Meso Bio in 1990 and never looked back. His family has requested privacy "as they navigate this profound grief". Details of funeral arrangements will be made public in the coming days. More stories about Ghana from the BBC: Ghana bans foreigners from trading in its gold market to boost revenue 'I was duped into leaving London for school in Ghana - but it saved me' Ghana wants more for its cashews, but it's a tough nut to crack The Maths Queen with a quantum mission to mentor girls Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Mail & Guardian
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mail & Guardian
Success is spelt Sarkodie
Spontaneous: Sarkodie recorded the effortless Lavida Loca in a hotel room while on tour in the United States three years ago – and it's still infectious. Photo: Lavida Loca video The first time I listened to Lavida Loca, I couldn't help but groove to it. Sarkodie's voice glides over M.O.G Beatz's production with signature slickness, while Ghanaian rapper Lasmid's hook worms its way into your brain with the kind of catchy ease only a summer anthem can manage. It's effortless and infectious, the kind of track you want to blast with the car windows down, soaking up every moment. Turns out, that's exactly what Sarkodie did. 'I was in Washington, DC, during my last US tour, driving my sports car with the top down, just blazing the music,' he tells me during a video call from his home in Ghana. 'It felt right. Like you're outside having fun.' The record had been sitting on ice for a while, waiting for the perfect moment. 'I trust my instincts. I'm always right when I feel like I have to do something. And this just felt like the time.' He was right. With tens of millions of streams, more than 80 awards and a career that's seen him collaborate with everyone from T-Pain and Kranium to Idris Elba and Oxlade, Sarkodie remains one of Africa's most decorated and respected rap icons. He's sold out venues around the world, including London's O2 Kentish Town Forum. His creative reach now stretches beyond music, with roles like a one-time stint as creative director for Ghana Party in the Park in London — a festival spotlighting Ghanaian talent in the diaspora. So when he drops a track like Lavida Loca, the world listens. Naturally, I had to wish him a happy belated birthday. I had read he'd turned 40 on 10 July. He laughs. 'Yeah, that's the information out there. I've been lying so much that I lost count of my own age. But I'm definitely not 40 yet. I'm getting very close though.' He spent the day quietly, just the way he likes it. 'It was intimate. Just myself, my wife and my kids. We had breakfast together. That's the kind of celebration I love.' It's clear that beyond the accolades and the acclaim, Sarkodie is at his happiest at home where he can be grounded, private and present. When the conversation turns to music, he lights up. Sarkodie's process is more instinct than strategy. He doesn't hunt for songs; he catches vibes. 'I record a lot. When I'm in the zone, I can do 30 to 40 songs in two weeks. Then I keep them. No pressure, no rush. Music needs freedom.' That spirit of spontaneity explains why Lavida Loca, recorded in a hotel room during a US tour three years ago, still feels so fresh. The track came with Lasmid's hook already in place. 'It was just very simple and catchy. You feel something when you hear it. I don't like music that's too complicated.' As for collaborations, he doesn't throw verses around lightly. 'Everything is intentional,' he says. 'I only link up with people who suit the song. There's a saying in Ghana that Sarkodie knows how to pick collaborators because we barely miss.' Still, there are artists he returns to again and again: Efya, Mugeez and Obrafour. 'We make some good music,' he says. And although he's proud of the Ghanaian sound, he's just as invested in its place in the broader African movement. 'I would say proudly that Ghana is the soul of what we now call Afrobeats.' He traces the lineage from highlife — Ghana's indigenous genre, steeped in palm wine guitar and melodic groove — through its modern evolution. 'When you trace it back, it leads to Ghana. Highlife is Ghana. Even now, when you listen to artists like Wizkid and Davido, you can hear it.' He's quick to give credit to Nigeria for its role in taking the sound international but insists on setting the record straight. 'Afrobeats is Highlife in a modern form. And Ghanaians played a huge part in shaping it.' Sarkodie is also passionate about using music as a tool for unity, education and self-determination. He's witnessed firsthand the power African artists have to inspire across borders, and he wants more of that. 'We've been sold stories about ourselves from outside,' he says. 'Everyone wants to be on the Grammys or BET, and that's fine. But that shouldn't define our greatness. We go through so much on this continent. But our music lets us dance away the sorrow. It brings us together.' Still, he believes artists can do more. 'We need to speak on our realities. Music shapes minds. If we don't speak, who will? I've always wanted to take our power back. We need to stop letting people come and take advantage of us.' It's that same mindset that led him to creative direct Ghana Party in the Park. 'I love behind-the-scenes work. I've always been that guy who reads the contracts before the lawyers,' he says of the one edition of the long-running UK festival, when he took the reins. 'Sometimes it's not even about money. It's about how you treat the artist, the vibe you create. I wanted to give these young artists a great experience; from the pickup, to the hotel, to the show, to studio time after. It was beautiful.' He's especially invested in emerging talent. 'The future is the best era,' he says. 'They're going to shape what we've built. I like being involved with that.' Even more impressive is Sarkodie's achieved all of this success independently; he has never been signed to a major record label. 'I'm signed to myself,' he says with a quiet certainty. 'I've never been under a label before. It's crazy.' It's not a boast, just a fact, delivered with the same humility that runs through his career. But the road here hasn't been smooth. 'It's hard. Very, very tough,' he admits. 'But I started enjoying independence earlier. Of course I wanted the deals, that's what every artist wants, but I think maybe God had a different purpose for me.' There were moments when the ink was nearly dry, when signing on the dotted line felt inevitable. And then something would shift. 'I'd feel like I don't have to. And I'd move past it. Then I'd figure out how to go through the obstacles. And realise: okay, it's hard, but you can actually do it.' That resilience is tied, in part, to a deeply rooted desire for ownership; not just of his music, but of his mistakes too. 'I'm someone who works based on how I'm feeling. I can be productive when I'm responsible for my downfall. But things break me when I feel like I couldn't do this because of someone else.' That kind of self-awareness has shaped every business decision he's made. He's never had a private investor. Every tour, album and promo run is paid for out of his pocket. 'It pays off with time. But it's very hard.' He doesn't judge artists who choose a different route. In fact, he's quick to defend them. 'Some artists are true geniuses. They don't want to read contracts. And people think it's bad, but it's not. Some artists create well when they don't have chaos in their mind.' For Sarkodie, though, the chaos is part of the equation, part of what makes him thrive. 'I know I'll panic if I'm doing a promo run and I don't know how much was paid for it,' he says with a laugh. 'I'll start checking the bank account.' That mix of artist and entrepreneur, of rapper and chief executive, has become central to his identity. It's why he founded his own label, sarkCess Music. And it's why, even with all the obstacles, he wouldn't have it any other way. When I ask if there's anyone he still dreams of working with, he pauses. 'Not really,' he says. 'These days, I hear a song and I know exactly who needs to be on it. Sometimes, if I don't get that person, the song just doesn't come out. That's how particular I am.' So what's next? Sarkodie has two more singles lined up for release, but his focus this year is on concerts. His flagship show, Rapperholic, a staple of Ghana's music calendar every December, is expanding. 'This year we're taking it to Kumasi, my hometown. It's called The Homecoming, happening on 27 September. Then we're back in Accra on 25 December.' And after that? 'I'll keep making great music and sharing it with the fans.'
Hamilton Spectator
23-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
‘She's everything to me': Family, community members gather to remember Belinda Sarkodie
A court publication ban now prohibits identifying the 17-year-old suspect in the Belinda Sarkodie homicide. His name and photo were previously released under a temporary court order. Many languages were spoken at a vigil for Belinda Sarkodie . But the sorrow was singular. Atop Jackson Square Friday evening, roughly 100 people gathered to remember and venerate the young woman's life. Sarkodie's brother and aunt, along with a pastor from the Pentecostal Church and members of the Ghana Association of Hamilton, surrounded a podium. Draped in black, they took turns at the microphone. 'Amazing Grace' was sung in English and then in Twi, which is spoken by many in Ghana. Attendees joined in. Family and community members sing 'Amazing Grace' at Friday's vigil. Sarkodie, the youngest of three siblings, died July 11 when she was shot in broad daylight while waiting for a bus outside the downtown mall. She was an innocent bystander. Police continue to search for a 17-year-old boy in connection with the shooting and believe a group of three males were the targets. Sarkodie, who had recently immigrated to Canada from Ghana, was just going about her day and happened to be in a bullet's path. 'She's everything to me and everything to the family,' said Richard Sarkodie, the 26-year-old's eldest brother. Richard told The Spectator he and Belinda were the only two members of their family living in Canada. He lives in Manitoba, so the family would connect and catch up through group calls — usually on Fridays, the same day of the week his sister was killed. At Friday's vigil, a stream of people laid flowers around an image of Sarkodie. Others congregated to share their memories of her. 'She was the youngest, but then she was very intelligent, very smart girl. Caring,' he said. 'She tried to console you and cheer you up, that everything will be OK.' Richard said the incident has been traumatic for their family further abroad. 'My mom, she couldn't even talk for three, four days. I tried talking to her on the phone, but it wasn't easy,' he said. Family and community members lay flowers and light candles at a vigil for Belinda Sarkodie Friday. After Sarkodie's family spoke at the vigil, the group gathered flowers from a nearby table and made its way down the Jackson Square steps. With tears running down their faces, a stream of people laid flowers around an image of Sarkodie before congregating to chat about their memories of her. Sarkodie's aunt, Evelyn Aidoo, spoke of her niece's generosity. 'She was very kind. Where she worked, they did this thing called Susu' — an informal savings club in which members contribute small sums of money and take turns receiving the larger pot. 'It was her turn to collect $3,000 and a gentleman at her work had a family problem and she was nice enough to allow the guy to take that turn, waiting for her turn,' said Aidoo. 'In fact she never got her turn.' A temp worker for Cargojet, Sarkodie died at the scene, near the busy intersection of King and James streets and just a couple of blocks away from Art Crawl, where thousands were strolling the streets at the monthly event. A man was also shot, but his injuries weren't life-threatening. The alleged shooter fled on foot. Hamilton police have said Sarkodie had no connection to either the alleged shooter or the targets. Evelyn Aidoo, aunt of Belinda Sarkodie, hangs posters with photos of her niece at Friday's vigil. On Sunday, police told The Spectator there were no updates in the investigation. The suspect is still at large. 'Hamilton police continue to actively search for the suspect and urge him to obtain legal counsel and turn himself in,' police spokesperson Erin Gunnell said in an email Friday. Belinda Sarkodie was shot and killed at a bus stop outside Jackson Square. Aidoo was not satisfied the suspect has yet to come forward. 'I just want to say that the person who is out there, you are a coward,' Aidoo said. 'You took a life away; justice needs to be served and you need to face it.' A GoFundMe has been organized by the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario. According to the page, Sarkodie studied environmental sciences in Ghana and graduated university with first-class honours in 2021. She moved to Hamilton in 2024. As of Sunday afternoon, more than $10,000 had been raised. 'The Ghana Association of Hamilton stands with Belinda's family during this incredibly difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them,' said association president Sam Opoku. Sarkodie is the second innocent bystander to be killed in a shooting at a bus stop in Hamilton this year. In April, international student Harsimrat Randhawa died in an incident on the Mountain. Richard Sarkodie was encouraged by the vigil's large turnout and said he could imagine Belinda's reaction. 'I know wherever my sister is, she'll be a bit happy seeing that people truly care about her.' Démar Grant is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator. dgrant@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
19-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Vigil to be held Friday night for Belinda Sarkodie at location of fatal shooting
A court publication ban now prohibits identifying the 17-year-old suspect in the Belinda Sarkodie homicide. His name and photo were previously released under a temporary court order. A vigil to mourn Belinda Sarkodie, an innocent bystander killed in a shooting last week, is scheduled for Friday from 5 to 6 p.m. at the corner of King and James streets. The location of the vigil is where the 26-year-old was killed July 11 when a 17-year-old allegedly shot at a group of three males around 5:30 p.m. outside Jackson Square. Sarkodie, who'd recently immigrated to Canada from Ghana, was struck while waiting for a bus and died on the scene. Hamilton police have said Sarkodie had no connection to either the alleged shooter or targets. Belinda Sarkodie, 26, was fatally shot downtown on July 11. On Friday, police told The Spectator there are no updates at this time regarding the investigation, and the suspect is still at large. 'Hamilton Police continue to actively search for the suspect and urge him to obtain legal counsel and turn himself in,' Erin Gunnell, corporate communications co-ordinator, said in an email. A GoFundMe has been organized by the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario. According to the page, Sarkodie studied environmental sciences in Ghana at the University of Education, Winneba — Mampong Campus and graduated with first class honours in 2021. She moved to Hamilton in 2024. Sarkodie is the second innocent bystander to be killed in a shooting at a bus stop in Hamilton this year. In April, international student Harsimrat Randhawa was also killed at a bus stop on the Mountain. Anyone with information or dashcam footage of the Sarkodie shooting is asked to contact Det. Michael Ebert of the homicide unit at 905-546-4167. More to come. Démar Grant is a reporter at The Spectator. dgrant@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
18-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Innocent bystander killed in ‘brazen' daytime shooting; teen wanted for murder
Police have identified a suspect — who remained at large Sunday night — in the 'brazen' daylight shooting death of innocent bystander Belinda Sarkodie , who was mourned both in Hamilton and abroad over the weekend. Investigators say Sarkodie, a 26-year-old international student, was heading home when shots rang out in front of downtown mall Jackson Square , near King and James streets at 5:25 p.m. Friday. Police now believe a male suspect opened fire at a targeted group of three individuals downtown that evening. One of those unidentified individuals suffered a gunshot wound and was taken to hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Sarkodie, who recently immigrated to Canada from Ghana, died on the sidewalk. On Sunday, investigators obtained a legal order allowing them to publicly identify a 17-year-old suspect. Mackale Lavoie was still at large Sunday evening. A warrant for his arrest has been issued and he faces charges of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. Police are urging residents not to approach Lavoie if they spot him, but instead call 911. Mackale Lavoie, 17, is identified by police as a suspect in Friday's fatal shooting. He remained at large as of Monday. Det.-Sgt. John Obrovac said there is no link between Sarkodie and either the shooter or other victim. 'It appears Belinda was an innocent bystander simply going about her day,' he said. The latest fatal shooting happened just steps from a party in Gore Park which itself was piggybacking on the larger James Street North Arts Crawl a few blocks away, where thousands of people milled about, in many cases unknowing. The chaos and senseless death will stay with a shaken Flora Mason, who told The Spectator she ran over from Gore Park to try to help both shooting victims shortly after shots rang out. Mason said she first offered a piece of her shirt to help fashion a tourniquet for the male victim, whom she understood to have a leg wound. The suspect in the fatal shooting is still at large, police say. Sarkodie was unresponsive when she reached her and efforts at resuscitation were obviously not working. Belinda Sarkodie, 26, was fatally shot downtown Hamilton Friday July 11. 'I said a prayer and I told her, 'It's OK beautiful, we're here. You're not alone,'' said a teary Mason, who did not know if Sarkodie could hear her. 'I kind of knew she was not going to make it … It was awful, so much worse than something you see on TV. I don't understand how this happens here.' Police said Sarkodie immigrated to work in Canada in 2024, while her LinkedIn profile also lists her as a Mohawk College student. She has no family in Canada other than a brother in Manitoba, according to police. But locally and abroad, stunned friends and supports mourned her passing on the weekend. In a brief message, AuCoin Hadley told The Spectator the 26-year-old was a 'pure, kind-hearted soul' and a dear friend and co-worker. 'I pray her family gets the justice they deserve,' Hadley also posted publicly online. Another social media poster abroad called her 'selfless, calm and polite.' Sarkodie was not known to leaders of the Ghana Association of Hamilton, said president Sam Opoku, but the organization has offered, through police, to provide aid to the family, if required. 'Whatever they need, the community is ready and willing,' he said. A 'heartbroken' Mayor Andrea Horwath also weighed in Sunday, offering condolences to family and the Ghanaian community. 'This incident has shaken us deeply. Everyone deserves to feel safe in our city,' she posted online . The shooting death also appeared to send shock waves internationally, with online outlets like GhanaWeb publishing reports and individuals pleading for information to send to family members in the West African country. Sarkodie died near a bus stop at the corner of James and King. She is the second innocent bystander cut down by a stray bullet in Hamilton this year. In April, international student Harsimrat Randhawa was shot on the Mountain, also at a bus stop. Online, residents reacted with fear and anger during the chaotic aftermath of this latest shooting, as police closed access to parts of Jackson Square Mall and much of the nearby streetscape. Video from the scene showed officers, some holding rifles, running up the outdoor stairs to the second level of Jackson Square mall. Another appears to show police with rifles moving through the mall, with panicky shoppers and store staff being escorted to exits. Scenes from a fatal shooting Friday night at James Street and King Street. One resident claimed he was prevented from leaving the library, which connects to the mall. Obrovac acknowledged police faced a daunting challenge given the location of the shooting. 'You probably couldn't pick a busier intersection in the city,' he said at a press briefing. But he added it was not considered necessary to try to cancel or disperse crowds further north on James Street for Arts Crawl. Obrovac said police are reviewing video footage from several sources. But anyone with information about the suspect's whereabouts is asked to call police at 905-546-4925. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
