Kiernan Jarryd “AKA” Forbes was laid to rest on Saturday, 18 February 2023 after his assassination on Friday, 11 February 2023. As assassination which also claimed his friend and former manager Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane as they were both gunned down outside of the Wish restaurant on Florida Road, Morningside, Durban.
Read more: Andile Mpisane Trolled Ahead Of AKA's Funeral
Read more: Andile Mpisane Trolled Ahead Of AKA's Funeral
Ahead of the funeral, the Forbes family and friends hosted a memorial service for the rapper on Friday, 17 February 2023. The memorial service was filled with touching moments, some comical, some tear-inducing and some surprising. However, the biggest surprise from the memorial service is the context of AKA’s earlier hit song Sim Dope.
AKA’s Sim Dope is a real person
Ahead of releasing his second solo studio album Levels, AKA had released a number of leading singles to the album’s eventual release. One of the first singles released from the album was the hit single Sim Dope. A single which AKA supported with visuals that were also released.
He told me that I have a special gift and it’ll change many lives after I emailed that beat to him. He was absolutely right. ❤️
— Tweezy (@TweezyZA) February 17, 2023
However, at the time, for the general public, the song and its title were never actually associated with a person or a reference except for the belief that it was just a term that AKA was coining.
But at the memorial service, Sizwe Dhlomo after giving his own touching eulogy was the subject of confusion. This is as he ended his time on the podium by adding that he was introducing Sim Dope.
At the time, when the hit single began to play, it was assumed it was a joke by the general public. However, as a young man walked out and started dancing, the joke turned into a surprise as it slowly became clear that Sim Dope was a person.
The song says "If I die bring me back as Sim Dope" And at his memorial @SizweDhlomo brings out Sim Dope. That is a crazy moment for the culture. pic.twitter.com/lbbIUhfws9
— Magwe 🙏🎶 (@MaqhawenkosiMa1) February 18, 2023
In light of the revelation to many, Sim Dope, whose real name is Simphiwe Gumede then shared how he and AKA have a friendship which spans close to 25 years as the two met in primary school when they were just 11. Moreover, when looking at the actual cover for the single, AKA and Sim Dope are the only two students in the image that don’t have their eyes blurred.
Nah the Sim Dope story is kinda wild and the fact that they are both there on the song cover😂😂😂
— HUG Life (@I_Am_Karabo) February 17, 2023
Conspiracy stuff! pic.twitter.com/UQumgPSTsG
Moreover, we came to know that Sim Dope is a real person. It was also discovered that Sim Dope is rich-rich as he is one of the sons of billionaire Robert Gumede. A billionaire that casually managed to buy his 18-year-old son a whole Porsche for matriculating.
Simdope has been AKA best friend since they were 11years old is actually SIMphiwe Gumede, Robert Gumede’s son, the richest men in SA.
— Lebo (@lebohangbokako) February 18, 2023
Their home is like the size of The Pavilion, they drive some of the most expensive cars in the World from Rolls Royces to Ferraris etc. pic.twitter.com/JweqzaHtg8
But if you were planning to shoot your shot now that Sim Dope has been actualised in human form. It seems that that might not be easy. Firstly, the personality is private on his social media accounts.
Moreover, given his wealth and access to celebrities, it seems that he is family-oriented. Additionally, it is reported that he is already married and a father of two children, and given how jovial he was despite the circumstances of his revelation, it does suggest that he is happy with his current life as a family man.
