He started dating his girlfriend Nadia Nakai at a crucial time in his life. He was down and depressed after losing his girlfriend Anele "Nelli' Tembe who fell from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel on LoopStreet in Cape Town. ?

CONFESSING HIS UNDYING LOVE

At the memorial service of the rapper, his friend Yanga Chief Ntshakaza expressed how AKA loved Nadia."The first time I asked Kiernan how your relationship was going, he didn't hesitate to tell me, 'Bah! This is it for me, Nadia saved my life.' I thank you for loving my bru and bringing him back when we thought we lost him the first time. He loved you so much.' 

MATCHING TATTOOS

In a recent interview with Kiernan and Nadia, the late rapper spoke about how and when they first met. "I was working for Icon (a night club in Joburg) I was straight out of varsity in 2013,' Nadia said. "I don't think I know who asked who out, but our first date was at your house, you had candles and incense.' Kiernan shared how he loved Nadia for being caring, loving, and family-oriented she how she always wanted to make him a better person. "I love how much of a leader you are. You teach me a lot of things. I also love how you are so strong in your beliefs,' Nadia added. The couple also recently got matching tattoos of a lion and lioness with King Arthur's sword in the centre. "I love the idea of matching tattoos, it means it's for life,' Kiernan said.

READY TO SETTLE DOWN

A close friend of the late rapper tells ZiMoja that Nadia was his saving grace. "He was done. He felt he had no purpose and he had reached a creating block when they started dating. So, she became his saving grace,' he says. "Before they dated, everything Kiernan was doing, was so he stays alive, but only his daughter and his family were keeping him sane. He was depressed until he and Nadia started dating.' The friend shares how Nadia was present for him and supported him through this dark time. "She supported him. Took the late-night calls when he was crying and she was there for him.' The friend says Kiernan had decided that this year he was going to propose. "She was the one. He was planning to propose this year. He was hopeless romantic and I am sure by Valentine's day, it would have been done,' he says. "Funny thing is they have known each other for more than 10 years and at one point he mentored her for a project But the love only came when he was in a dark place and needed her the most.'