Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, popularly known as AKA, was born on January 28, 1998. His fame began after releasing his hit single, ‘Victory Lap,’ which became the lead single on his debut album “Altar Ego.” He followed this success by releasing hit albums “Levels” (2014), “Be Careful What You Wish For” (2017), and “Touch My Blood” (2018). AKA is undoubtedly one of the most prominent and wealthiest rappers in Africa. Today, we celebrate this star on his birthday.
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Kiernan Jarryd Forbes
Nickname:
AKA
Birth date:
January 28, 1988
Age:
35 years, 4 months
Zodiac Sign:
Aquarius
Height:
5' 8"
Relationship Status:
In a relationship
Net Worth:
$12.0 million
Background
Kiernan Jarryd Forbes was born and raised in Cape Town. After forming a hip-hop group called Entity with his friends, it wasn’t long before it gained prominence in the music world. They were nominated for the Best African Hip-Hop category for the KORA All Africa Music Awards. After the group disbanded in 2006, Forbes did not let this deter his pursuits for a musical career and went on to study sound engineering. He collaborated with a music collective, where he made production credits for hip-hop artists ProKid, JR, and Khuli Chana. Still intent on creating his music, he released three singles in 2009: ‘In My Walk,’ ‘I Do,’ and ‘Mistakes.’These set the tone for and cemented AKA’s sound in the music industry. A year later, lead singles ‘All I Know’ and ‘Victory Lap’ were pre-released and became hits, setting the precedent for his debut album “Altar Ego.” The album was released on August 23, 2011, and became certified gold for its immense success. He went on to release his second album, “Levels,” on June 30, 2014, from which he pre-released singles ‘Jealousy,’ ‘Kontrol,’ ‘Congratulate,’ and ‘Run Jozi.’ It went double platinum, skyrocketing AKA’s fame and influence. Later, he released the third and fourth albums, “Be Careful What You Wish For” and “Touch My Blood” – the former of which was a collaboration with Anatii. “Touch My Blood” was released on June 15, 2018, and received significant success for his collaborations with other African artists like L-Tido, Yanga Chief, Kwesta & Okmalumkoolkat, and Nigerian producer Kiddominant. In 2021, he released an Extended Play titled “Bhovamania.”Tragedy struck with the death of his fiancée, Nelli Tembe, who passed away following an unfortunate incident at a hotel. It was a trying time but he has continued to make music.
Career timeline
Forbes collaborates with his friends and creates the hip-hop group, which later gets disbanded.
Forbes releases ‘Victory Lap’ which becomes an instant success and tops South African charts.
“Levels” is released, going double platinum and cementing Forbes’ career.
Forbes’ most critically acclaimed and successful album to date is released.
Forbes bags a nomination at the tenth ceremony of the South African Hip-Hop Awards.
Aka FAQs
Does Forbes have children?
He has a daughter named Kairo Olwethu Forbes.
Who has more money between Cassper Nyovest and AKA?
Forbes has an estimated net worth of 12 million dollars while Cassper’s net worth falls a little below that.
Who is AKA dating?
He is dating his fellow rapper Nadia Nakai.
5 Surprising Facts
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He is a big wrestling fan
Forbes was also a featured guest in WWE live events in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
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He has a vodka brand
In April 2020, Forbes collaborated with vodka brand Cruz to launch a watermelon-flavored drink with his initials on the bottles.
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He loves comedy
Forbes even volunteered to be a featured roastee on a Comedy Central special.
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He lived with his grandmother
After his parents’ separation when he was a youth, Forbes moved in with his grandmother.
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He is book smart
Forbes studied at St. John’s College, graduated with flying colors, and then went on to study sound engineering.
Why We Love Aka
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He loves his fans
Forbes always wants to take them along for the ride as he journeys through his career. During the pre-release period of “Touch My Blood,” he took to Twitter to announce a graphics design contest for the album artwork.
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He is very dedicated
After the disbanding of his hip-hop group Entity, Forbes did not give up. He became one of the most prominent rappers of all time in Africa.
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He prioritizes his mental health
After the death of his fiancée, Forbes knew it was time to retreat and take some time for himself. However, he has still managed to keep his fans involved.
Aka’s birthday dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | January 28 | Saturday |
| 2024 | January 28 | Sunday |
| 2025 | January 28 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | January 28 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | January 28 | Thursday |
