AKA, whose legal name is Kiernan Forbes, was shot and killed outside a restaurant in Durban on Friday night (Feb. 10). He was 35. His parents announced his death on social media on Saturday (Feb. 11).
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved son, and confirm that he passed away on February 10, 2023, untimely and tragically. The statement, shared on AKA’s Twitter account, said Tony and Lynn Forbes “we are awaiting further information from Durban police.”
Kiernan Jarryd Forbes was, to his parents, a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin, a friend, and most importantly, the father of Kairo. Our son was loved and returned the favor by many of his fans, who called him AKA, Supa Mega, Bhova, and many other affectionate names.
The New York Times reports that AKA, who was scheduled to perform at a nightclub on Friday, was walking to his car in a popular nightlife area of the coastal city shortly after 10 p.m. when two armed individuals fired several shots at close range before fleeing. Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, a chef and entrepreneur who was a friend of AKA, also died at the scene.
Before his death on Friday, AKA shared an Instagram post promoting his upcoming album, Mass Country, scheduled to be released in late February. After news of his death broke, music stars like Diplo and Swizz Beatz left comments. Diplo wrote, “Damn bro.” Swizz added multiple crying face emojis.
Prior to releasing his 2010 debut album, Altar Ego, which featured the popular track “Victory Lap,” AKA had worked as a producer for numerous artists. He later became known for songs such as “All Eyes on Me,” “Fela in Versace” and “Lemons (Lemonade).
