Highlife Legacies: Ghana Prepares for Ebo Taylor’s Memorial as Daddy Lumba’s Family Navigates Leadership Change

The Ghanaian entertainment industry is navigating a period of reflection and transition as the nation prepares to honor the life of highlife legend Ebo Taylor, while the family of the late icon Daddy Lumba undergoes a significant leadership reshuffle. These developments highlight the enduring influence of highlife pioneers and the complexities of maintaining their legacies within traditional and familial structures.

In Saltpond, family, friends, and music enthusiasts will gather on Saturday, March 14, 2026, for a one-week memorial observance of Ebo Taylor. The legendary guitarist and composer passed away on February 7, 2026, at the age of 90, leaving behind a career that spanned over six decades. The observance will commence with a service at the Wesley Methodist Church at 6:30 a.m., where attendees are requested to wear black in honor of his memory. Taylor was an architect of modern West African music, celebrated for his unique ability to fuse traditional Ghanaian rhythms with jazz, soul, and Afrobeat. His work has seen a modern resurgence through international sampling, ensuring his influence resonates with a new generation of global listeners.

Simultaneously, the family of late highlife giant Daddy Lumba is dealing with internal disputes following the official removal of Abusuapanyin Kofi Owusu, also known as Abusuapanin Tupac, from his role as family head. The decision was reached by the Ekuorna family after Owusu repeatedly failed to respond to summons from the chiefs of Parkoso, ignoring a two-week ultimatum. Senior family members, including Mama China and Wofa Yaw Poku, stated that the move was necessary due to conduct that was described as divisive and disrespectful to traditional authorities. While Owusu has been stripped of his leadership responsibilities, he remains a member of the family and is permitted to attend future gatherings in a non-official capacity.

These concurrent events underscore the deep cultural roots of highlife music in Ghana, where the passing of a legend like Ebo Taylor is met with national reverence, and the internal governance of a family like Daddy Lumba’s remains a matter of significant public interest. As the creative arts community prepares to pay its final respects in Saltpond, the resolution of leadership tensions within the Ekuorna family marks a new chapter in preserving the heritage of the artists who defined Ghana’s musical identity.