Benni McCarthy recently opened up about his deep and meaningful friendship with the late rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, reflecting on their special bond in an emotional interview. Speaking on 5FM’s Breakfast Show this week, McCarthy, South Africa’s all-time leading goal scorer, revealed that AKA was the only person who could have potentially convinced him to revisit his brief musical foray. “The closest person that could’ve gotten me back into music was the late AKA,” McCarthy shared, speaking fondly of their connection. The former footballer also highlighted that their friendship was built on mutual respect, and they kept in constant touch over the years.
The tragic death of AKA, alongside his friend and celebrity chef Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane, in early 2023 shocked South Africa and left McCarthy devastated. The rapper and his friend were fatally shot outside a nightclub in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, sending shockwaves through the entertainment industry. McCarthy, who was based in England at the time, working as an assistant coach at Premier League club Manchester United, expressed how deeply the news affected him. “I was completely devastated when I found out what happened,” he said, remembering AKA as someone who was very close to him.
In an emotional tribute following AKA’s death, Manchester United, a club both McCarthy and AKA supported, acknowledged the rapper’s impact. The club paid homage to him in their matchday programme, noting his status as a loyal United supporter. McCarthy also shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, posting photos with AKA and expressing condolences to the Forbes family. The bond between McCarthy and AKA was particularly evident in the rapper’s final album, Mass Country, where the song “Mbuzi” featured a clip of McCarthy wrapping up an interview with Robert Marawa. The use of “Mbuzi,” meaning “goat” (Greatest of All Time), was widely seen as a tribute to McCarthy, acknowledging both his legendary status in football and his close connection with AKA.
McCarthy’s relationship with music stretches back to the late 1990s when he was featured in the hit song “Shibobo” by the popular Kwaito group Tkzee, following South Africa’s qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In an interview with Dan Nicholl a few years ago, McCarthy described his experience with the song as surreal. “That was the weirdest moment, to be honest,” he said, recalling how he never imagined himself as a musical artist. “We all think we can sing when we’re in the shower or the toilet, no problem. But when you’re asked to record something… at first, I thought it was just for a laugh.” The song became a massive success and was a fun project for McCarthy, but he confessed that it wasn’t something he was eager to repeat. “People were referring to me as ‘Benni McCarthy Shibobo, great singer,’ and I’m thinking, ‘I’m a footballer, not a singer.’”
Despite McCarthy’s hesitation towards pursuing music further, the success of Shibobo introduced him to a new fanbase and added a unique layer to his career. However, the former footballer remained clear that his primary focus would always be football. His brief dabble in music, alongside the monumental success of his football career, makes for an interesting chapter in McCarthy’s legacy, but he maintained his stance that it was a one-off experience. As for revisiting music in the future, McCarthy admits that only AKA could have tempted him to consider it again.
The untimely passing of AKA has left a significant void in South Africa’s entertainment industry, and McCarthy’s reflections on their friendship offer a glimpse into the deep personal connections that transcend the public personas of celebrities. The heartfelt tributes and stories shared by McCarthy speak volumes about the influence AKA had on those around him. It is clear that AKA’s legacy, both in music and as a friend, will continue to live on through the people who knew and loved him, including Benni McCarthy.
