Daddy Lumba’s ‘Mpempem Do Me’ features in King Charles III’s playlist

• Posted on March 10, 2025March 10, 2025
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

King of the United Kingdom, King Charles III has revealed his music favorites. The King’s favourite music was shared exclusively by Apple Music Radio’s The King’s Music Room.

Based around a Commonwealth theme, the music choices are Charles’ own, and listeners get a sense of his enthusiasm for music.

King Charles’ playlist was published on Monday, March 11 to mark the Commonwealth Day in a project to celebrate music from Commonwealth countries.

Surprisingly, Ghanaian highlife legend, Daddy Lumba’s ‘Mpempem Do Me’ takes the seventh spot of the King’s favourite music playlist.

With a connection to Ghana, which Charles last visited in 2018, the King says, “I found myself dancing along” to the track.

The playlist also features Bob Marley’s Could You Be Loved as well as contributions from Nigerian singer-songwriter Davido (‘Kante’ feat. Fave) and British singer-songwriter Raye.

Beyonce’s Crazy in Love featuring Jay- Z also featured in the King’s playlist together with Grace Jones’ La Vie En Rose.

In a brief statement by King Charles III shared by Apple Music, he said these songs gives him joy and represents many different cultures but “share the same love of life in all its richness and diversity.”

“I wanted to share with you the songs which have brought me joy. They evoke many different styles and many different cultures. But all of them, like the family of Commonwealth nations, in their many different ways, share the same love of life in all its richness and diversity.

With these songs, His Majesty King Charles invites everyone to journey with him to all corners of the world as he celebrates Afrobeats stars, crooners, pop phenoms, reggae legends, disco greats and more.

“I can only hope you have enjoyed these few songs I have had time to share with you. Perhaps you have heard some of your own favourite pieces and perhaps you may have discovered something new,” he says.

On Bob Marley’s  Could You Be Loved, King Charles praises Marley’s “marvelous, infectious energy, but also his deep sincerity, and his profound concern for his community.”

“I always recall his words: ‘The people have a voice inside of them, ” he added.