Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, born on January 28, 1988, is a well-known figure in the African music industry known as AKA.
The 35-year-old was a South African rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer.
His single, Victory Lap rose to prominence in 2010.
Besides, the song, which appeared on AKA’s debut album, Altar Ego, catapulted him into the national spotlight and earned him international recognition.
He released top-charting albums such as Levels, Touch My Blood, and Be Careful What You Wish For over the years.
A millennial, Kiernan was born and raised in the city of Cape Town, South Africa by his parents Tony Forbs and Lynn Forbes.
He spent the formative years of his life in his parents’ house before moving with his grandmother when his parents separated.
His grandmother resided in a bungalow in Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town. When he grew older, he moved out of his grandmother’s place and moved in with his mother, who lived in Johannesburg.
He drew love to music when he was a teenager by listening to rap songs from American artists.
This prompted him to start writing down rap songs.
He created the hip-hop group, Entity with his close friends Vice Versa and Greyhound. The group was together for a couple of years before splitting in 2006.
After attending schools at Holy Cross Convent in elementary education and St. John for high school, the legendary rapper did not proceed immediately to university. He focused on music for a while before studying Sound Engineering at the university.
While at the university, AKA co-founded a second music group, The IV Collective, alongside two other members.
The group focused on producing songs for other artists. Notable names they worked with before disbanding are Khuli Chana, ProKid, and JR.
AKA began ascending the South African music industry ladder after dropping singles such as Mistakes, In My Walk, and I Do.
However, he finally struck gold after recording and releasing his debut album, Alter Ego, in 2011.
The tracks, I Want It All, All I Know, and Victory Lap, were the top songs of the album and topped the music charts in the country.
He began receiving invitations to collaborate with other artists and perform at top shows across the country.
AKA has won various awards such as Best Collaboration in the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards, Best Male Artist in the 21st South African Music Awards (2014), Most Valuable Artist in the 4th South African Hip Hop Awards (2015), Most Digital Sales in the 4th South African Hip Hop Awards (2015), Best Male Artist in the 18th South African Music Awards (2012), and Best Collaboration in the 2014 African Muzik Magazine Awards.
Before meeting his death, the rapper flew in from Johannesburg in to Durban on February 10 for his birthday party, which was scheduled to hold in Yugo Nightclub.
AKA promoted the show on his social media page as he asked fans to show up.
Before he was killed, AKA had gone to a fish restaurant on Florida road with some friends and his bodyguard.
He posted his location on his Instagram page.
After the meal, he stepped outside the restaurant and was shot six times.
According to eyewitnesses, it was a drive-by shooting while others claimed someone worked up to him and shot him.
Meanwhile, one of his friends standing with him was killed while his bodyguard was injured in the shooting.
This happens as an onslaught of violent crime afflicting South Africa shows no sign of abating, according to police statistics released Wednesday that detailed a further surge in murders and kidnappings.
Quarterly figures said that more than 7,000 people, including almost 1,000 women, were murdered over the period, up 14 percent in the same timeframe in 2021.
According to the crime index ranking, South Africa was the most dangerous country in Africa in 2022, followed by Angola, Somalia, and Cameroon.
Murder and organized crime are particularly widespread in South Africa. In 2022, the country had one of the highest crime rates.
