In a devastating turn of events this weekend, sensational South African rapper AKA was shot outside a Durban restaurant. The tragedy has left South Africans grief-stricken and mourning the loss of one of their beloved artists.
According to a statement from KwaZulu-Natal police, two men aged 34 and 35 were fatally wounded just after 10 p.m. local time on Friday night.
The victims, appear to have been returning to their vehicle after leaving a restaurant “when they were allegedly approached by two armed suspects who walked to them from across the street and shot the victims at close range,” police said. “The suspects are reported to have fled from the scene on foot.” They died at the scene.
Recognized for his iconic single “Lemons (Lemonade)”, Forbes earned great success and recognition and received several South African awards and nominations for a BET Award in the U.S., an MTV Europe Music award, and more. Hours before his untimely death, 35-year-old Forbes shared a post on his Twitter page regarding his newly released album ‘Mass Country’, which was slated to launch later this month.
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GhPage.
To commemorate their son and brother’s life, Forbes’ family issued an official statement through one of his social media accounts to honor him.
“It is with extreme sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our beloved son, and confirm his untimely and tragic passing on the evening of February 10, 2023,” his parents wrote in a statement published on the 35-year-old artist’s social media accounts early Saturday, adding that they were awaiting further details from Durban police.
“To us, Kiernan Jarryd Forbes was a son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend, most importantly father to his beloved daughter Kairo,” they wrote.
“To many, he was AKA, Supa Mega, Bhova and the many other names of affection his legion of fans called him by. Our son was loved and gave love in return.” Motsoane, who was also AKA’s former manager, described him on social media as “a true gentleman”.
South Africa, is among the countries with the highest murder rate in the world. Gun-related shootings are a common occurrence. According to estimates by Gun Free South Africa, an organization working hard to reduce this violence, 30 people are murdered by gunshots every day.
Last November, this wave of violence robbed Oupa Sefoka – or “DJ Sumbody” popular in Amapiano house music sub-genre, when he was shot dead alongside his bodyguard. In 2007, Lucky Dube was shot three times in a botched hijacking attempt as he dropped off his teenage son at a relative’s home.
