Grief is a deeply personal journey, and for Zimbabwean-South African rapper Nadia Nakai, it has been a rollercoaster of emotions following the tragic death of her boyfriend, Kiernan Jarryd Forbes—widely known as AKA.
Nadia’s struggles came to light during season three of Young, Famous & African, which premiered on Netflix on January 17.
A Moment of Vulnerability
In one episode, Nadia was visited by Ghanaian singer Francine Nyanko Koffie, better known as Fantana.
Their conversation began lightheartedly, with Fantana hinting she might be pregnant, but it soon turned serious.
Fantana noticed something was off and asked Nadia if she was okay.
The Naaa Mean hitmaker admitted that she wasn’t and expressed a need for therapy.
“It’s difficult, just maneuvering life, you know? Low-key I’m not fine, and I know I need to go to therapy.
But I don’t see that happening any time soon… I just have too much to unpack,” she confessed.
Putting on a Brave Face
In her confessional session, Nadia opened up about masking her pain to avoid worrying others.
“My person is gone. So, it’s difficult.
After losing Kiernan, I like to tell people that I’m fine because I don’t want to worry them.
And I feel like I’m okay to a certain extent—until I’m alone.”
This raw honesty sheds light on the loneliness that grief can bring, even when surrounded by friends and family.
A Friend’s Intuition
South African actress Khanyi Mbau, a close friend, decided to visit Nadia to check in on her.
Khanyi explained her decision, saying, “It just felt like I needed to get on a plane and see for myself if she is really okay.”
Her instincts were right—Nadia was struggling.
“She’s literally hanging on by an eyelash, and she isn’t okay,” Khanyi shared.
During their time together, Nadia revealed that AKA’s mother, Lynn Forbes, had moved in with her for a month after the tragedy.
Her friends even took turns keeping her on “suicide watch.”
Nadia reflected on how isolating grief can be, saying, “A lot of people don’t understand how I’m alone a lot of the time.
Kiernan’s mom literally lived with me for a month to make sure I wasn’t by myself.
I couldn’t do it, I was on suicide watch.”
Finding Strength in Work
Eventually, Nadia realized that staying idle was not an option.
“There was a day where I was finally by myself, and I realized that I can’t sit in this house. I have to work,” she said.
This moment marked a step forward in her healing process, showing her resilience amidst overwhelming loss.
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