The South African rapper AKA, real name Kiernan Forbes, was shot and died on Friday. He was 35. A “well-known rapper,” identified as Forbes by News24, was tragically shot outside a well-liked bar on Florida Road in Durban, according to confirmation from the local police.
“I can confirm that two men were killed, and one is a well-known rapper. Police will not release any names of the victims until a full investigation is completed,” law enforcement spokesperson Robert Netshiunda told the outlet.
Forbes’ parents verified their son’s death in a statement Saturday. “It is with extreme sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our beloved son,” Tony and Lynn Forbes told The Post. “We are awaiting further details from the Durban Police.”
We’re waiting to get further information from the Durban Police. The South African rapper was reportedly scheduled to play in Durban on Friday. On February 27, “Mass Country,” a new album, was scheduled for release.
The incident happened shortly after 10:15 p.m. local time, according to paramedic Garrith Jamieson, and when they arrived, “paramedics found absolute commotion and a scene where two guys, thought to be in their late 30s, had several gunshot wounds.”
The author said that the first male suffered several gunshot wounds, exhibited no signs of life, and was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. The site stated that despite attempts to save his life, the second unidentified male victim later passed away.
AKA was born on January 28, 1988, and on Friday, fans and artists from all over the world came to Twitter and Instagram to express their sorrow and condolences.
The rapper announced his upcoming album release in an Instagram post on Friday, and now the comments section is flooded with heartbroken emoticons. Before the shooting, he appeared to respond to a fan’s online tweet.
Fans voiced their “worry” for his safety by posting “RIP” and heart emoticons in the answers. Others pleaded with the rapper to publish something indicating his existence.
Is true, bro AKA are you okay?”
“Are you alright, mate?”
“We’re all waiting for you to tweet something,”
He was recalled by Forbes’ parents as a “son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend,” but “most significantly, father to his loving daughter, Kairo,” whom he shared with his ex-girlfriend, DJ Zinhle.
His biggest songs are “Lemons (Lemonade),” “Fela in Versace,” and “All Eyes on Me,” and the musician, also known as Supa Mega, has amassed over 489,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. His most recent hit, “Prada,” was released earlier this year.
Anele “Nelli” Tembe, the rapper’s fiancée, died after falling and hitting her head in 2021.
“Our son was loved, and he gave love in return,” the statement from the Forbeses read.
“In this time of loss, we ask for your understanding, privacy, and time for the family to gather and make decisions about the days ahead.”