AKA posts tribute to Nelli Tembe. Image via Instagram @akaworldwide.
Losing Nelli Tembe: Timeline of AKA’s year in review [photos]
Rapper AKA has been on an emotional rollercoaster this year: From getting engaged, paying lobola and then losing his fiancée Nelli Tembe.
AKA posts tribute to Nelli Tembe. Image via Instagram @akaworldwide.
South African rapper Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, popularly known as AKA, tragically lost the “love of his life” Anele “Nelli” Tembe on 11 April this year.
Here is a timeline of their romance, her death and what followed.
FEBRUARY: AKA PROPOSES TO NELLI TEMBE
AKA took his relationship with Nelli to the next level in February this year. The rapper asked for the 22-year-old’s hand in marriage on 21 February and she said yes!
MARCH: AKA MEETS NELLI’S FAMILY FOR LOBOLA NEGOTIATIONS
AKA met with the Tembe family to negotiate the lobola he will pay for Nelli’s hand in marriage in March this year. Lobola is the traditional “bridal wealth” paid by the man to the family of his wife-to-be in the form of livestock or other means.
ALSO READ: Who was Nelli Tembe, the woman behind AKA? Six things you didn’t know
APRIL: NELLI’S DEATH
Just two weeks after the lobola negotiations – Nelli plunged to her death from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town.
MAY: SHOCK FOOTAGE AND ABUSE ALLEGATIONS
A video of AKA breaking down a door to get to a traumatised Nelli who was hiding from him went viral in May. The shock footage sparked speculation of AKA abusing the 22-year-old.
ALSO READ: AKA and Nelli: Shock footage spark rumours of abuse [watch]
MAY: AKA’S SIT-DOWN INTERVIEW WITH THEMBEKILE MROTOTO
The Fela in Versace hitmaker sat down with eNCA journalist Thembekile Mrototo for his first interview since Nelli’s death in May. The main talking points from the interview were,
- The couple was “fighting for hours” the weekend of her death.
- AKA was in the bathroom of their suite phoning hotel security when she allegedly jumped off the balcony at 07:00.
- The rapper then ran next door to his friend. Although Nelli was still breathing, AKA did not go downstairs to check on her.
- AKA denied that he is an abuser.
JULY: THE INQUEST IS REOPENED
The interview is rumoured to have helped clear the rapper’s name in the investigation into the 22-year-old’s death. So, the inquest into the young chef’s death was believed to be reopened. This is also believed to be mandatory when the deceased dies of unnatural causes.
AUGUST: AKA REMEMBERS NELLI FOUR MONTHS LATER
Four months after her death, AKA posted a tribute to the love of his life.
“4 months to this day. ???? … it never goes away. Everyday I pray for her, myself and our families. I will never be the same person I was … but I will do the best I can with the gift and opportunity of life that I still have left. Thank You to everyone who has stuck by me and our respective families … you know who you are,” wrote AKA.
