South African rap star Aka was shot dead outside a popular nightclub in the coastal city of Durban on Friday. The thirty-five-year-old rapper’s real name was Kiernan Forbes, but he was known as Aka. According to police, he was shot on the night of Friday, February 10, when he was walking to his car after leaving a restaurant with a man.
“Two armed suspects allegedly approached him from across the street and then the suspects approached and shot his partner at close range,” police said in a statement. “Our son was loved (in his life), and he gave love back,” Lynn Forbes wrote in a statement posted on his Twitter account.
Police have not yet determined the motive behind the shooting, but investigations are ongoing.
Tributes and anger after Aka’s death
Aka has been nominated several times for a Black Entertainment Television (BET) Award in the US and has also been nominated once for an MTV Europe Music Award.
He was also known for hits like ‘Lemons (Lemonade)’ and ‘Fella in Versace’ and released his album ‘Prada’ earlier this year.
South Africa’s Department of Arts and Culture has mourned Aka’s killing and remembered him as an artist who “raised the South African flag wherever he went”.
South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has said the loss of Aka’s killing has been felt by many who were inspired by his music.
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Another opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, said, “Crime is out of control in South Africa and the killing of civilians has become routine.”
Shootings are common in South Africa, which has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Many people also carry licensed firearms for personal protection. Apart from this, deadly illegal weapons are also common in this country.
