His death is still very confusing and hard to fathom for his fans who arrived early for his memorial service without tickets. They queued up outside of the Sandton Convention Centre in numbers, some hoping they would be allowed in to bid farewell to their icon. But they ended up singing and chanting outside of the venue. The digital tickets that were available online sold out within minutes of being advertised. Chanting, singing, and a brass band blow on their wind instruments AKA's song Jika featuring Yanga Chief. 

FRIENDS FOR LIFE

Inside a packed Convention Centre, family and friends all vow to never let Kiernan "AKA' Forbes' legacy die. Best friend of 17 years, Yanga Chief Ntshakaza recalls when he first started working with AKA in 2007 and how his first performance in front of 10 000 people was with the Company rapper.

"Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, The Real Supa Mega, Bhovamania, Outie yam, Mfana kithi, de multi-talented, Itolo, ' as AKA was known among his fans. Yanga says in his eye AKA seemed immortal. The two met when Yanga was a Web Developer at Ventilation Production, and he went on to pursue film and video production. "It was surreal working with Kiernan, he was never ever satisfied. He made it a point that every video had something that had never been done before.' Working with him came with many late nights and hard work. They brainstormed a lot together. 

AN UNFORGIVING INDUSTRY

Yanga recalls wanting to get a verse on AKA's music and the first time he featured in his song and how his life changed forever when the song Run Jozi with Ntokozo "K.O' Mdluli was born. "I am eternally grateful for watching his meteoric rise,' Yanga says he was rapping for enjoyment and unlike AKA, he was never built to compete in the cutthroat music industry. "This industry is very unforgiving, judgemental, and most times very unfair,' Yanga says though, with AKA, he never had to try too hard. "He always left you feeling motivated and inspired,' Yanga says."I sleep easy knowing you fulfilled your goals. It has been a hell of a ride but through you, I've been able to live this music dream too.' 

THINGS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME

Yanga says it will never be the same without his friend. AKA's upcoming album Mass Country which he spent more than a year recording will be released on 24 February 2023. Yanga says on the last day of AKA recording his album, he asked him for a verse. "When I got there, he made fun of me because I had just released a song with Cassper Nyovest. I know, my bad,' he chuckles. "After jokingly calling me a sell-out, you hugged me, gave me a kiss on the cheek, and told me you missed me,' he says. "Kiernan was a very affectionate man, as a Xhosa gent, it's hard to say I love you, especially to another man. But he normalised that among us, especially his friends.' A teary Yanga thanked everyone who worked on his friend's new album and pleads with everyone to continue making him proud.