AKA

Biography

Kiernan Jarryd Forbes (28 January 1988 – 10 February 2023), known professionally as AKA and also Supamega, was a South African rapper, record producer, and businessman. Born in Cape Town and raised in Johannesburg, Forbes gained recognition after releasing his single "Victory Lap" from his debut studio album, Altar Ego×Altar Ego23 August 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1"Altar Ego Intro"0:292"Reign" featuring Buffalo Souljah4:383"Victory Lap"3:504"Haters (skit)"1:015"I Want It All"4:086"All I Know"4:247"Mistakes"4:338"Radio Monate (skit)"0:329"Bang" featuring Khuli Chana4:0010"Big 5" featuring Clu5:2911"BEE (skit)"0:5312"Ladies Is Pimps Too"4:2713"High School Cool" featuring Buks5:0614"New Year, New Naira (skit)"0:2315"Snakes and Ladders"4:2716"When I’m Gone"4:2117"Gola (skit)"0:2818"Victory Lap (remix)" featuring Tumi, HHP & Amu6:31 (2011). Often regarded as one of the greatest South African musicians of all time, he was one of the most popular South African musicians of his era and the best-selling South African hip-hop artist of all-time.
Forbes continued his success by releasing studio albums including Levels×Levels30 June 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Levels1:082Sim Dope3:543Run Jozi (Godly)3:544Sunshine4:045Congratulate3:456All Eyes On Me4:187Daddy Issues4:478Let Me Show You3:469Kontrol4:2010Pressure3:0211Jealousy2:48 (2014), a collaborative album with Anatii titled Be Careful What You Wish For×Be Careful What You Wish For28 July 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Bryanston Drive210 Fingers3Psalm.10004How You Like Me Now !/?5Camps Bay 36Holy Mountain7Don't Forget To Pray8Angelz9Jesus Plug10The Saga feat. AKA (2017), Touch My Blood×Touch My Blood15 June 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Touch My Blood4:542Fully In4:483Beyoncé4:524Reset4:435Amen6:046Magriza5:297Sweet Fire4:158Caiphus Song5:429Fela In Versace5:2810Zone3:4711Jika5:0412The World Is Yours4:5113Me and You5:2614StarSigns5:4915Mame5:5316Daddy Issues ll4:59 (2018) and his final album, Mass Country×MASS COUNTRY24 February 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Last Time3:462Mbuzi (Freestyle)5:163Crown3:484Lemons (Lemonade)5:245Prada2:576Sponono4:157Company4:078Paradise3:239Ease4:2010Amapiano3:5111Dangerous3:4612Everest3:0913Diary (Anxiety)4:4314Army (Bonus)3:23 (2023).
On 10 February 2023, Forbes was shot dead outside a restaurant in Durban.

Early life and education

Kiernan Jarryd Forbes was born in Cape Town, South Africa 28 January 1988 into a Christian family. He is the eldest of two boys, and is the older brother of Steffan Forbes. He moved to Johannesburg at a young age and attended St John's College.

2002-2013: the beginnings and Alter Ego

In 2002, Forbes, alongside his two friends Vice Versa (Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh) and Greyhound, formed a hip-hop group called Entity. The group received a nomination for a KORA Award in the Best African Hip Hop category. Entity disbanded in 2006 and Forbes went on to study sound engineering. In 2006, Forbes co-founded the production collective The I.V League alongside two other members. The I.V League made production credits for several artists, including Khuli Chana, ProKid and JR. In 2009, he released three singles: "In My Walk", "I Do", and "Mistakes".
On 28 July 2010, Forbes released "I Want It All", the lead single from his debut studio album, Altar Ego×Altar Ego23 August 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1"Altar Ego Intro"0:292"Reign" featuring Buffalo Souljah4:383"Victory Lap"3:504"Haters (skit)"1:015"I Want It All"4:086"All I Know"4:247"Mistakes"4:338"Radio Monate (skit)"0:329"Bang" featuring Khuli Chana4:0010"Big 5" featuring Clu5:2911"BEE (skit)"0:5312"Ladies Is Pimps Too"4:2713"High School Cool" featuring Buks5:0614"New Year, New Naira (skit)"0:2315"Snakes and Ladders"4:2716"When I’m Gone"4:2117"Gola (skit)"0:2818"Victory Lap (remix)" featuring Tumi, HHP & Amu6:31. The album also pre-released two singles which were "All I Know" and "Victory Lap". "Victory Lap" was successful as it topped South African local radio charts. Alter Ego was then released on 23 August 2011. The album was certified gold by RiSA for its commercial success. The album won several accolades, including the 2011 Metro FM Awards for Best Hip Hop Album. Forbes won Best Male Artist of the Year at the 2012 South African Music Awards.

2014–2017: Levels and Be Careful What You Wish For

Forbes released his second album, titled Levels×Levels30 June 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Levels1:082Sim Dope3:543Run Jozi (Godly)3:544Sunshine4:045Congratulate3:456All Eyes On Me4:187Daddy Issues4:478Let Me Show You3:469Kontrol4:2010Pressure3:0211Jealousy2:48, on 30 June 2014. The album was supported by four singles: "Jealousy", "Kontrol" (featuring Da L.E.S), "Congratulate" and "Run Jozi (Godly)" which features KO and Yanga. The album was certified platinum in 2014, and double platinum in 2018 by RiSA. This album gave Forbes the unique distinction of being the first South African rapper to go platinum with an album mainly recorded in English.

On 2 December 2016, Forbes released the lead single "The World is Yours×The World Is Yours2 December 2016 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1The World Is Yours4:52" from his third studio album. With the delay of its release, Forbes collaborated with associated act Anatii in composing the album, Be Careful What You Wish For×Be Careful What You Wish For28 July 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Bryanston Drive210 Fingers3Psalm.10004How You Like Me Now !/?5Camps Bay 36Holy Mountain7Don't Forget To Pray8Angelz9Jesus Plug10The Saga feat. AKA. The album was released on 28 July 2017, with a positive response from critics. It was supported by three singles: "10 Fingers×10 Fingers8 January 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track210 Fingers5:15", "Don't Forget To Pray×Don't Forget to Pray2 May 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track7Don't Forget To Pray3:25" and "Holy Mountain".

2018–2019: Touch My Blood

With the pre-release of "The World is Yours×The World Is Yours2 December 2016 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1The World Is Yours4:52" in 2016, Forbes also pre-released songs including "Caiphus Song×Caiphus Song28 February 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Caiphus Song5:42", "Star Signs" (featuring Stogie T) and "Sweet Fire" in supporting the release of his third album, Touch My Blood×Touch My Blood15 June 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Touch My Blood4:542Fully In4:483Beyoncé4:524Reset4:435Amen6:046Magriza5:297Sweet Fire4:158Caiphus Song5:429Fela In Versace5:2810Zone3:4711Jika5:0412The World Is Yours4:5113Me and You5:2614StarSigns5:4915Mame5:5316Daddy Issues ll4:59. Concerning the album's front cover, Forbes took to Twitter to announce a contest for graphic designers to design the artwork for his album, using his clear face portrait. As numerous entries were sent, Forbes chose the winner named Taonga, who received an internship with Beam Group. Fifteen days before its release, he released the controversial single "Beyonce" which was a dismissive song dedicated to his past partner Bonang Matheba.
Touch My Blood was then released on 15 June 2018 as it was set to release on 25 May 2018 but then delayed for taking time in building its promotion. The album was certified platinum then later certified double platinum by RiSA as for 2019. Touch My Blood's sixth single "Fela in Versace" featuring Kiddominant received higher commercial success compared to the other singles. The album features guest appearances from fellow South African artists including L-Tido, JR, Yanga Chief, Stogie T, Kwesta and Okmalumkoolkat, as well as Nigerian artist and producer Kiddominant.
On 8 April 2018, Forbes was featured on a WWE live event in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa. In February 2019, he was the featured roastee in Comedy Central SA annual roast special.
In April 2020, Forbes alongside vodka brand Cruz launched a watermelon-flavoured drink with his initial on the bottles.

2020–2023: Bhovamania, Mass Country

On 6 November 2021, AKA's Extended Play Bhovamania was released. The EP was supported by four singles: "Energy", "Python", "Monuments" and "Cross My Heart". At the tenth ceremony of the South African Hip Hop Awards, he received a nomination for Artist of the Decade.
In early September 2022, AKA announced plans for his fourth studio album Mass Country×MASS COUNTRY24 February 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Last Time3:462Mbuzi (Freestyle)5:163Crown3:484Lemons (Lemonade)5:245Prada2:576Sponono4:157Company4:078Paradise3:239Ease4:2010Amapiano3:5111Dangerous3:4612Everest3:0913Diary (Anxiety)4:4314Army (Bonus)3:23 on Instagram. The Nasty C-assisted track "Lemons (Lemonade)×Lemons (Lemonade)16 September 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Lemons (Lemonade)4:20 " was released on 16 September 2022, as the album's lead single. The song was certified 4× Platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA).
The album was released on 24 February 2023. It reached Platinum in South Africa.
In July 2023, Sony Africa announced an upcoming Mass Country Deluxe edition, released date to be announced.

Personal life

Forbes began dating producer DJ Zinhle at the end of 2014. After receiving several South African Hip Hop Awards accolades, Zinhle hinted at their relationship by tweeting "Congratulations to my winner". The couple have a daughter named Kairo Owethu Forbes, born in 2015. In August 2015, Forbes and Zinhle split after it was revealed that Forbes allegedly cheated on Zinhle with television presenter Bonang Matheba. Though Forbes and Matheba initially denied the allegations, they admitted to their relationship in 2016. Forbes and Matheba broke up in December 2017. However, Forbes and Zinhle got back together in late 2018, although later in 2019 they broke up again.
On 21 February 2021, Forbes posted a picture on Instagram announcing his engagement to girlfriend Nelli Tembe. On 11 April 2021, Tembe died after a fall from a hotel in Cape Town.
Following the death of Tembe, reports emerged that Forbes had been on drugs. He issued a public statement in response, saying he would not be drawn into exposing their troubles as a couple to defend himself against "one-sided views". The rapper's statement came in the wake of a News24 report, which claimed to have seen images where Forbes can be seen using his hands to violently break down a wooden door to enter the bedroom in their apartment in Bryanston, Johannesburg, where Tembe was hiding. The incident allegedly took place on 13 March 2021, almost a month before her death. During the Parliament ad hoc task in 2025, former minister of police Bheki Cele, alleged that police believe Tembe was murdered.
In July 2026 an inquest was set to begin at the Cape Town Magistrate Court into Tembe's death where six witneses are expected to testify. This follows News24 reconstruction of a video based on a CCTV footage including social media activities that tracked the couples movements before the suicide.

Murder and investigation

On 10 February 2023 at 22:00 (SAST) local time, Forbes was scheduled to perform at the Yugo nightclub in Durban as part of his birthday celebration. That night, as he was standing outside a restaurant with friends, a gunman ran up to Forbes and fatally shot him in the head while his accomplice shot and killed his friend Tebello Motsoane, after which both men fled the scene on foot. Forbes and Motsoane were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Although two people were present during the assassination of AKA, six people in total were involved in the late rapper’s death. Police revealed that his death was the result of an organized hit. The person who orchestrated the murder followed AKA from the King Shaka International Airport to his hotel. Four vehicles, two gunmen, two stalkers, and a weapons dealer all contributed to the death of AKA and his friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane. The trial has been postponed to July 2026 after the judge scolded lawyers.