Sim Dope: What is his real name – and why is he trending?

Twitter users were surprised when they found out that “Sim Dope” was in fact a real person last Friday, 17 February at the memorial service for slain South African rapper AKA.

ALSO READ | AKA murder: St John’s College pays touching tribute to former pupil

AKA was tragically shot dead outside Wish restaurant on Florida Road in Durban late on Friday, 10 February.

ALSO READ: ‘Your were robbed off your time’: Zinhle’s sweet tribute to AKA

SIM DOPE TRENDS FOLLOWING SPEECH AT AKA’S MEMORIAL 

AKA’s legion of fans will know “Sim Dope” is one of the rapper’s songs.

However, at his memorial service, his close friend from school days, Simphiwe Gumede, was introduced as the man behind the song title – which also happens to be his nickname.

ALSO READ: ‘Heartbroken’: Lynn Forbes reacts to Nadia Nakai’s tribute to AKA

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SIM DOPE

1. AKA GAVE HIM THE NICKNAME ‘SIM DOPE’ 

While delivering a speech at AKA’s memorial service, Sim Dope revealed that AKA had given him the nickname.

Sim Dope explained that when he joined the rugby team at their school, AKA told him that he needed a nickname.

“Now that you are a ‘boet’ you can’t be going on a Saturday and be known as Simphiwe, I mean that’s not dangerous,” he said.

He then said that he told the rapper that he was the “lover boy” writing love letters so he should come up with the nickname… and he did! That’s when “Sim Dope 11” was born.

2. SIM DOPE INSPIRED AN AKA SONG? 

Gumede revealed that AKA told him his life is about to change because he wrote a song about him and their life together.

“I wrote a song dawg… about you, and me, life and everything,” he quoted AKA as saying.

He went on to say that the rapper told him that he meant a lot to him.

3. HE IS THE SON OF A BUSINESSMAN 

Sim Dope is the son of businessman Robert Gumede.

Gumede is the founder of the IT firm Gijima Technologies and its holding company Gijima Group.

ALSO READ: Cassper addresses beef with AKA, says it was ‘exaggerated’

4. HE ATTENDED ST JOHNS COLLEGE WITH AKA 

AKA met his longtime friend back in school when they attended St John’s College in Johannesburg.

5. HE IS BELIEVED TO BE MARRIED 

Sim Dope is believed to be married.

However, he lives a very private life so there is not much information on his marriage.

ALSO READ: AKA’s tombstone: Understated elegance or ‘cheap’? [photos]