Burna Boy Reveals Private Reconciliation With Late AKA Before Tragic Death
In a heartfelt tribute that has captivated music fans across Africa, Nigerian Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy has revealed he privately reconciled with South African rapper Kiernan "AKA" Forbes before the latter's untimely death. The disclosure came through Instagram stories posted on January 28, 2026, marking what would have been AKA's posthumous birthday, bringing closure to one of the continent's most talked-about celebrity feuds.
The Birthday Revelation That Shocked Fans
Burna Boy's social media tribute began with a simple "Happy Birthday Supa Mega," using AKA's popular nickname. However, the subsequent slide contained a more revealing message that has since gone viral. The Nigerian star wrote: "We fell out over bullshit even though we squashed it over Twitter DMs nobody knew about. We never got the chance to really link up and do what we were supposed to do. I will regret that till I see you again. Until then, R.I.P Mega."
This confession confirmed what many had speculated but never knew for certain: that the two African music icons had privately settled their differences long after their very public fallout. The revelation has sparked widespread discussion about the nature of celebrity conflicts and the importance of reconciliation.
The Golden Era of Collaboration: When Burna and AKA Were Pan-African Pioneers
To understand the significance of this reconciliation, one must revisit the peak of their professional relationship. Between 2014 and 2016, Burna Boy and AKA represented a groundbreaking moment in African music history. They stood as the faces of a cultural bridge between Nigerian Afrobeats and South African hip-hop, collaborating on tracks that would define a generation of pan-African musical exchange.
Their most iconic collaboration, "All Eyes on Me," featured Burna Boy alongside AKA, Da L.E.S., and JR. This track became a key single from AKA's sophomore album 'Levels' and quickly established itself as one of the most visible cross-continental African records of its time. The song's success was monumental:
- It won Best Collaboration at the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs)
- It cemented AKA's mainstream appeal in Nigeria
- It demonstrated the commercial potential of Nigerian-South African collaborations
The partnership continued with "Baddest," another successful collaboration, and Burna Boy's appearance on "Paid" by AKA's associate Da L.E.S. Their joint performance with French Montana at the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards further solidified their status as cultural ambassadors. At the height of this era, Nigerian fans humorously declared Burna Boy "South African" due to his deep integration into that country's music scene.
The Public Fallout: When Politics and Xenophobia Intervened
The golden era came to an abrupt end in 2019 amid rising tensions between Nigeria and South Africa. Waves of xenophobic attacks in South African cities created a tense environment that extended beyond music into broader socio-political conflicts. The situation escalated dramatically following comments from AKA after Nigeria defeated South Africa in the African Nations Cup.
While AKA's statement might have been intended as football rivalry banter, it was interpreted within the context of the xenophobic violence that characterized that period. This led to a heated exchange on Twitter (now X), with Burna Boy among the Nigerian stars who responded strongly. The Nigerian artist firmly declared he would never set foot in South Africa again until meaningful action was taken against xenophobia.
The conflict reached its most explosive point when Burna Boy directly addressed AKA in a series of since-deleted tweets, telling him to beef up his security and warning against crossing paths. This marked an ugly and abrupt end to what had been one of Africa's most celebrated musical friendships.
The Path to Private Reconciliation
Despite his vow never to return to South Africa, Burna Boy performed at the DStv Delicious Festival in Johannesburg in September 2022. During his set, he jokingly referenced having "enemies" before performing his verse from "All Eyes on Me." For many observers, this was the first indication that hostilities had eased, though no formal reconciliation was announced at the time.
Burna Boy's 2026 birthday message provides crucial context to that 2022 performance. According to the Nigerian star, the real peace had already happened privately through direct messages on Twitter. This reconciliation was never announced, posted, or publicly acknowledged. They had quietly moved past their differences but never found the opportunity to reconnect fully or collaborate again.
Tragically, that opportunity vanished forever on February 10, 2023, when AKA was shot and killed in Durban. The murder trial continues, with proceedings scheduled through mid and late 2026, keeping the rapper's memory and legacy in public consciousness.
Regret and Reflection After Loss
Burna Boy remained silent for days following AKA's death, prompting widespread speculation about his feelings. When he finally addressed the tragedy, it was through an emotional, unreleased song snippet shared on Instagram. In this raw musical tribute, Burna referenced a memory where AKA once saw his gun and called him "wild," with Burna recalling that he told AKA he should carry one too—a poignant reflection of the dangers they both navigated in their careers.
The most telling line from that snippet captured the complexity of their relationship: "I ain't really f**k with you, but I didn't want you dead." This honest admission revealed the nuanced nature of their connection—not quite friendship in the end, but certainly not the bitter enmity their public feud suggested.
Now, in 2026, Burna Boy's birthday tribute brings their story full circle. It confirms that the anger did not last forever, but also highlights how reconciliation came too late to produce the artistic collaborations fans had hoped to see. Their story remains one of African music's most powerful "what-ifs," raising questions about whether the continent will ever witness that particular kind of cross-border artistic synergy again.
The legacy of Burna Boy and AKA's relationship serves as a reminder of both the unifying power of music and the destructive potential of political tensions on artistic collaborations. As African music continues to gain global prominence, their story underscores the importance of nurturing cross-border relationships in the creative industry, even amidst challenging circumstances.
