Arnold Kojo Asante, CEO of Imajin Advertising and Imajin & Fusion Global, has expressed deep disbelief and sorrow over the passing of Ghanaian music legend, Daddy Lumba. In an emotional interview on Okay FM, the celebrated events executive recounted his experiences with the late highlife icon and called for a state burial in his honour.

“I still don’t believe that Daddy Lumba is dead,” Asante said. “Sometimes I think it’s a stunt. It hasn’t fully hit me yet.”

Asante recalled a conversation he had with the musician late last year during one of his events in South Africa, where South African music legend Yvonne Chaka Chaka was honoured. “Daddy Lumba heard about it and called me. He said I should link up with him when I return to Ghana,” he recounted.

Asante, whose company organized the renowned Legends and Legacy Ball in 2012, shared that the event's first edition was designed to honour Daddy Lumba. It became one of the most iconic celebrations of his music career.

“In 2012, we launched our first major event—Legends and Legacy Ball. My former event manager and I developed the concept together. The idea was simple: most of our veteran musicians don’t get any form of ex gratia or lasting recognition. We wanted to celebrate them while they’re alive, not when they’re gone,” he explained.

Asante said the team rejected the common practice of awarding wooden plaques and instead raised the bar with a $25,000 gold medal, which was presented to Daddy Lumba in recognition of his legacy and relevance at the time.

“Lumba was still a dominant force in music, and we felt it was right to start with him,” he said.

When asked if he felt Daddy Lumba had lived a long life, Asante, who now also serves as a pastor, responded thoughtfully: “It’s not about how long you live, but the impact you make. Jesus lived only 33 years. Lumba made a tremendous impact. I remember during our celebration, musicians like Kofi Nti offered to perform for free, just because it was Daddy Lumba.”

He added, “For me, it’s a celebration of life. He lived well and paid his dues. If Ghana and the President decide to give him a state burial, it would be absolutely fitting.”

Asante also made a passionate appeal to Ghanaian musicians and event organizers: “When you meet people like us who want to honour our legends, support us. Encourage us, so we can do more. I feel Lumba wasn’t celebrated enough.”

There are already conversations about reviving the Legends and Legacy Ball, which Asante says remains the only major event that truly honoured Daddy Lumba in his lifetime.