Rapper AKA Gunned Down in South Africa

HomeNewsRapper AKA Gunned Down in South Africa

AKA, whose real name was Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, was shot and killed Friday evening outside a restaurant in Durban.

A South African rap celebrity was one of two men killed in a drive-by shooting in Durban.

AKA, real name Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, was only 35 years old when his life was brutally cut short on Friday, just minutes before he was scheduled to perform.

AKA and the second man were killed by gunfire while standing outside a restaurant in a South African city.

According to local reports, the pair was shot at 10:00 p.m. local time (8:00 p.m. GMT) by two cars whose occupants opened fire, unleashing a hail of bullets.

**Violent scenes unfolded in Durban on Friday night**

AKA was scheduled to perform at the YUGO nightclub, but the performance was canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances,” as stated on social media.

Paramedic Garrith Jamieson told Times Live, “Upon arrival, paramedics encountered chaos and two men in their late 30s with multiple gunshot wounds.”

ALSO READ: Russia Reduces Oil Production by 5% Amid Sanctions Impact

Unfortunately, the first man sustained multiple gunshot wounds, displayed no signs of life, and was pronounced dead at the scene by responding paramedics.

According to additional reports, AKA was shot six times.

Fans have utilized social media to express their shock and sadness.

One Twitter user wrote, “RIP AKA…This world’s music industry will not forget you. You did great sir.”

Another devastated fan tweeted, “I am completely devastated and heartbroken.”

AKA was born in Cape Town, South Africa, on January 28, 1988, and he debuted on the music scene in 2002 when he co-founded the hip-hop group Entity with Vice Versa and Greyhound.

Before disbanding in 2006, they were nominated for a KORA Award in the Best African Hip Hop category.

AKA continued to produce music as a solo artist until the 2011 release of his debut album, Alter Ego.

He subsequently released three more albums, the most recent of which was 2018’s Touch My Blood.

AKA had an on-and-off relationship with the 39-year-old music producer DJ Zinhle, whose real name is Ntombezinhle Jiyane.

They welcomed a daughter named Kairo Olwethu Forbes in 2015, and then separated that same year, only to reconcile in 2018 and separate once more in 2019.

Tragically, AKA fell in love with Nelli Tembe, and the couple became engaged in February 2021; however, Nelli died in April of that year after falling from a balcony.

READ MORE: