The memorial service for rapper and hip-hop star AKA unfolded at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, on Friday 17 February. Image via Twitter @@nick_wastaken
AKA memorial: ‘Kairo the Brave’ and other key moments [watch]
The memorial service for slain rapper AKA took place at the Sandton Convention Centre. We round up some key moments.
The memorial service for rapper and hip-hop star AKA unfolded at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, on Friday 17 February. Image via Twitter @@nick_wastaken
The memorial service for award-winning rapper Kiernan “AKA” Jarryd Forbes was held at the Sandton Convention Centre today (Friday 17 February). The touching ceremony marked a week since the music star was shot at point-blank range outside Wish restaurant, in Florida Road, Durban.
The shooting incident which shocked South Africans to the core, also claimed the life of his close friend, author and celebrity chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane.
The 35-year-old rapper was billed to perform his AKA Supa Mega Birthday Celebration perform at YuGo nightclub later that night.
ALSO READ: LATEST: Footage of AKA’s fatal night out emerges [watch]
According to The Citizen, KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi confirmed that the two suspects behind the murders might be known to the police. No arrests have however been made and the investigations are ongoing.
AKA will be laid to rest on Saturday 18 February in a private funeral.
AKA memorial service: Key moments
Take a look at some of the poignant key moments of the memorial service.
The Forbes family, AKA’s girlfriend at the time of his death, Nadia Nakai; former girlfriend DJ Zinhle and mother of their daughter, Kairo, sat in the front row wearing black T-shirts with the slogan: “Long live Supa Mega, live long”.
DJ Zinhle and Kairo
AKA’s only child, the seven-year-old Kairo Forbes, would have made her father proud indeed: From getting up to comfort a heartbroken Nadia Nakai to dancing during Amati’s musical tribute, Holy Mountain, the little girl put up a brave face next in the presence of her mother, DJ Zinhle.
ALSO READ: ‘Thank you’: DJ Zinhle shares update on Kairo after AKA’s death
ALSO READ: LISTEN: AKA and KDDO’s new single “Company” DROPS
Nadia Nakai
A heartbroken Nadia Nakai — the rap star who had been in a relationship with AKA for just over a year — sat next to DJ Zinhle and broke down in tears, crying uncontrollably. Kairo comes to her rescue with a hug as seen in the clip above.
Nadia was not with AKA on the tragic evening of his death, although the two rappers were on vacation in the United States recently.
ALSO READ: Nadia Nakai’s last interview with AKA sparks pregnancy rumours
Mom Lynn Forbes
The rapper’s mother, Lynn Forbes, paid a touching tribute to her son.
She started off by requesting a moment of silence for Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane. She continued by thanking the Megacy (AKA’s fans) for their support.
“Today a week ago, my heart was shattered into countless pieces, but today and every other day going forward, it will not just be about our family and me…. it will be about the Megacy as our broader family. I believe that is what Kiernan would have wanted because Kiernan belonged to all of us,” said Forbes.
She slammed the conspiracy theories doing the rounds on social media about AKA’s friend Don Design playing “a role” in the killing:
“Don Design, I love you my son”
ALSO READ: AKA’s friend under Twitter fire: Who is Don Design?
She also told DJ Zinhle and Nadia Nakai that they will always be her “daughters”.
Powerful quotes
In his heartfelt tribute, Oskido said “we lost a soldier”, adding “No one is gonna silence Kiernan or his voice, his music lives in forever”
DJ Tira spoke out against the crime in South Africa: “The government and society need to do something; it’s not about the death of a celebrity but about the safety of everyone in the country.”
Musical tributes
IV League
IV League performs Victory Lap from AKA’s debut album, Altar Ego, for which he won Best Male Artist at the 18th South African Music Awards.
Anatii
AKA and Anatii collaborated on the 2017 album Be Careful What You Wish For.
Sjava
Joyous Celebration
Joyous Celebration performed Ndenzel’ Uncedo Hymn. Programme director Nomuzi Mabena also revealed that the rapper was going to collaborate with Joyous Celebration.
The music lives on: Trailer of new AKA album, ‘Mass Country’
Musical legacy to the Megacy…Take a look at the trailer of AKA’s upcoming fourth studio album, Mass Country, which played during the memorial service. The album will be released on 24 February.
ALSO READ: AKA: New album ‘Mass Country’ will be released as planned
The Megacy’s tribute
Fans paid tribute to AKA outside the Sandton Convention Centre by celebrating his life and music. RIP.
Tags:
