Kabelo Mabalane Recalls Final Conversation With AKA

Kabelo Mabalane has shared what he remembers of his last conversation with Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, according to SA Hip Hop Mag. He described the exchange during an interview with SlikouronLife, where he was asked about the final time he spoke to the late rapper.

A request for prayer

Mabalane said AKA came to a home cell meeting on a Tuesday evening and told the group that his album, Mass Country, was about to be released. The project mattered a great deal to him, and he wanted the others to pray for it. He also mentioned a planned tour with Joy Celebration, which he hoped would help him share the gospel.

Mabalane recalled AKA putting it to the group in plain terms. He said the rapper told him he was dropping an album and asked everyone to pray for it. AKA also said he was going on tour with Joy Celebration.

A change of mind

According to Mabalane, AKA reconsidered before the meeting got under way. He decided the prayers should centre on the album alone. Mabalane quoted him as saying: “don’t pray for the tour. Leave the tour. Just pray for the album.”

When the group prayed afterwards, Mabalane said he wanted to bring the tour into the prayer as well. AKA held to his wish and asked that the focus stay on the album.

Mabalane said the moment has stayed with him, partly because the tour never took place. He pointed to the timing of the conversation, which happened on the Tuesday before the Friday AKA died.

Background

AKA died in Durban on 10 February 2023. Mass Country, his fourth studio album, came out after his death, on 24 February 2023.

Mabalane’s account gives a personal view of how AKA spent the days before his death. By Mabalane’s telling, the rapper was looking ahead to the release of new music and to a tour, and he turned to prayer for the work he hoped to achieve.

This story is based on reporting by SA Hip Hop Mag.