Born on January 28, 1988, Kiernan Jarryd Forbes was a well-known figure in the African music scene.

He was a 35-year-old South African rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer better known by his stage name AKA.

After releasing his beloved track, Victory Lap, he became famous. The song, which is off his debut album Altar Ego, launched AKA into the national spotlight and earned him notoriety on a global scale.

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He put out top-charting albums including Levels, Touch My Blood, and Be Careful What You Wish For during his reign.

On February 10, 2023, AKA was shot and killed in Florida Durban, South Africa. Shortly after posting his location on Instagram, he passed away from a gunshot.

Early Life

On January 28, 1988, AKA was welcomed into the world by Mr. Tony Forbes and Mrs. Lynn Forbes. Kiernan, a millennial, was born in the South African city of Cape Town.

Prior to residing with his grandmother when his parents divorced, he spent his formative years living with his parents. The bungalow where his grandma lived was in Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town. When he was older, he left his grandmother’s home and relocated to Johannesburg to live with his mother.

As a teenager, AKA fell in love with music while listening to rap tracks by American artists. He began to record rap songs as soon as he got home from school as a result of this.

Together with Vice Versa and Greyhound, two of his close pals, he founded the hip-hop group Entity around this time. The band lasted for a few years until breaking up in 2006.

Education

AKA received his elementary schooling at Holy Cross Convent in Cape Town while he lived with his grandma. He didn’t finish his education there, though, before moving on to Greenside Primary School.

He completed his secondary school studies at St. John College, where he excelled and received high honors. But he delayed going to college after graduating from high school.

Before enrolling in the university’s Sound Engineering program, he initially concentrated on music.

Career

AKA and two other members of a second music group, The IV Collective, co-founded it when they were students. The band concentrated on writing songs for other musicians. Before breaking up, they collaborated with famous people like JR, ProKid, and Khuli Chana.

After releasing singles like Mistakes, In My Walk, and I Do, AKA started moving up the South African music industry ladder. But after making and releasing his debut album, Alter Ego, in 2011, he finally found gold. The album’s top hits, I Want It All, All I Know, and Victory Lap, also topped the national music charts.

As a result of his increased popularity among music enthusiasts, he started getting requests to work with other musicians and play at prestigious events all throughout the nation. The release of his debut album helped AKA start a winning streak that saw him nominated for and eventually take home multiple music prizes. Additionally, Alter Ego was awarded gold status by RISA as a result of the thousands of units that were sold throughout the nation.

AKA released several singles throughout the course of the next two years as he worked on his follow-up album. The Levels project was made public on June 30, 2014. The singles Kontrol, Jealousy, Congratulate, and Run Jozi are notable ones from the album. In June 2018, his third album, Touch My Blood, was released to the general audience. The album was a commercial success as evidenced by RISA’s Platinum and Double Platinum certifications.

On November 6, 2020, AKA released Bhovamania, a four-track EP. Singles from the album included Cross My Heart, Python, Monuments, and Energy.

Discography

  • Bhovamania
  • Touch My Blood
  • Be Careful What You Wish For
  • Levels
  • Alter Ego
  • Victory Lap
  • I Want It All

Social Media

AKA has a sizable social media following because she is one of the most well-known South African celebrities. He currently has more than 3 million Instagram followers and more than 5 million Twitter followers.

  • Instagram handle – @akaworldwide
  • Twitter handle – @akaworldwide

Personal Life

He was a favorite of the nation’s female music lovers due to his attractive face characteristics and muscular physique. The 35-year-old AKA lives in Johannesburg and is a single father.

He previously had a committed relationship with DJ Zinhle, the mother of Kairo Owethu Forbes, his daughter. After having insurmountable issues, the couple split up. They continue to be friends, nevertheless, and cooperate to raise their girls well.

AKA proposed to his girlfriend Nelli Tembe in the first quarter of 2021, and she accepted. Before Nelli Tembe lost her life after falling from a hotel in Cape Town, the couple had been engaged for four months.

Before his terrible death, AKA was still mourning the loss of his beloved fiancée and remained single.

Net Worth

AKA was one of the richest musicians on the continent; his current estimated net worth is between $20 million and $30 million.