Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, known professionally as AKA, a well-known South African rapper, was shot and killed on Friday night, February 10 in Durban, South Africa. The rapper was 35 years old. According to the news outlet BBC, he and a second man believed to be Forbe’s friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, were shot outside of a restaurant. Motsoane was a chef and entrepreneur.
Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the rapper and his friend were walking to their car after 10:00 p.m. in the popular coastal nightlife area when they were approached by two armed men who shot them at close range. The assailants then fled the scene on foot. Forbes, born in Cape Town, South Africa on January 28, 1988, was scheduled to perform at a nightclub on Friday as part of his continuing birthday celebration.
One of South Africa’s leading hip-hop artists, Forbes had worked as a producer for numerous artists before releasing his 2010 debut album, Altar Ego. He gained recognition after releasing his single “Victory Lap” on the Altar Ego album.
He later become known for songs like “All Eyes on Me,” “Fela in Versace” and “Lemons (Lemonade).
The parents of the deceased rapper confirmed the passing of their son on Saturday (Feb. 11) in an emotional statement on social media. Authorities were still searching for the suspects at press time, according to the New York Times.
Hours before his death on Friday, AKA shared a post on Instagram promoting his upcoming album, Mass Country, which is scheduled for release in late February. The post included a few pictures of him working in the studio and one of him pointing to the sky. The post read, “MASS COUNTRY 27/02/2023 🌵🏆 … hit the link in the bio and pre add the album 💿 NOW”. Following news of his death, the post was flooded with comments from music stars like Diplo and Swizz Beatz. “Damn bro,” Diplo wrote. Swizz added numerous crying face emojis.