Tracing the Steps of AKA: The Rise of a Musical Legend. Rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes Tragically Passes Away. On Saturday, February 10th, 2023, the music world was rocked by the news of rapper Kiernan Forbes’ passing.
Forbes, also known as AKA, was 35 years old and had been shot in Durban, Florida road alongside his friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane. Despite the controversies that surrounded him, Forbes was one of South Africa’s top rappers, songwriters, and entrepreneurs.
WHO WAS AKA
Kiernan Jarryd Forbes was born on January 28th, 1988, and raised in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. He spent his childhood with his grandmother in Mitchell’s Plain and attended Holy Cross Convent school in Cape Town before moving to Johannesburg in 1995 to live with his parents. In Johannesburg, he attended Greenside Primary School and later St. John’s College.
A HIP HOP PIONEER
AKA’s love for hip hop started at a young age, and in 2002 he formed the group Entity with two of his friends, Vice Versa and Greyhound. The group received a nomination at the KORA Awards for the Best African Hip Hop category, but they eventually disbanded in 2006.
Forbes went on to study sound engineering and co-founded The I.V League, which signed artists like ProKid, Khuli Chana, and JR. In 2009, he released three songs – “In My Walk,” “I Do,” and “Mistakes” – under the I.V. label. He later went on to have huge success with his hit single “Victory Lap” in 2010.
Tracing the Steps of AKA: The Rise of a Musical Legend
AN AWARD-WINNING ARTIST
Forbes’ talent was recognized by many awards throughout his career. In 2011, he won a Metro FM Award for Best Hip Hop Album, and in 2012 he won a South African Music Award for Best Male Artist of the Year for his album “Altar Ego.”
He was also named the Best Male Southern Africa and Best Collaboration at the 2014 African Muzik Magazine Awards, and won the MTV Africa Music Awards for Best Collaboration and Best Male Artist in 2015.
Forbes’ other awards include the South African Hip Hop Awards, the Metro FM Music Awards, and the Kids’ Choice Awards. In 2019, he was named Pan African Artist of the Year at the Namibia Annual Music Awards, and in 2020, he took away the South African Music Awards for Music Video of the Year.
A LOVE LIFE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Forbes’ relationships also drew attention, especially his relationship with DJ Zinhle, which was tumultuous. They met in 2012 and had a daughter, Kairo, but broke up in 2015 over allegations of infidelity with media personality Bonang Matheba.
They briefly got back together in 2018 but broke up again in 2019. Forbes was also engaged to aspiring chef Anele Tembe, but she tragically passed away two months later in an incident at the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town.
SURVIVING FAMILY
Forbes is survived by his parents, Tony and Lynn Forbes, his daughter Kairo Owethu Forbes, and his brother Steffan Forbes. Despite his passing, his impact on South African hip hop and the music industry will never be forgotten.