On Sunday 28th January, the entertainment community celebrated the first heavenly birthday of one of South Africa’s most prominent musicians Kiernan Forbes, widely known by his stage name AKA.
This was the first time that his fans, family, and friends alike celebrated his birthday without him being physically present. This comes after the rapper was brutally shot and killed, in February 2023 in front of the Wish restaurant on Florida Road in Durban.
One of his close friends, who at the time was at the center of public scrutiny and suspicion last year – Don Design, took to Instagram to remember the late rapper. He later also took to his Instagram story to wish one of AKA’s longtime friends Sim Dope who happened to celebrate his birth on the same day, a happy birthday.
Both would have celebrated their 36th birthday.
Sim Dope, real name Simphiwe Gumede is the son of Robert Gumede, one of the richest men in South Africa.
The two met while attending the same high school, St Johns College during the early 2000’s and have been the best of friends ever since. So much so that in 2014 the rapper released a song from his album Levels which was titled Sim Dope – a dedication to their long-lasting friendship.
Meanwhile, many believed that “Sim” was a made-up character for the song, and it was not until his memorial service held in Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre, that fans met the man who inspired the song.
Speaking about how he got the name he said:
“Let me tell you how this ‘Sim Dope’ name came to be. So, we got to grade 10 and I made the first team in rugby and it’s like a big thing for everyone. I was sitting there, and he (AKA) says to me, ‘Sim, now you’re a boet, bru, like your boet at school.’
“So, we laughed, and he said, ‘But you can’t go on Saturday and just be Simphiwe. I mean, that’s not dangerous.’ So, I said to him, ‘You’re the lover boy who writes love letters [so you give me a name].’ So, he says, ‘From now on, you’re Sim Dope,’” he explained.
Also see: Nadia Nakai celebrates AKA’s birthday
