Mzansi Celebs

Nadia Nakai opens up about grief and finding support from Riky Rick’s widow after AKA’s death

Hip-hop star Nadia Nakai has shared the emotional toll of losing her boyfriend, the legendary rapper AKA, while also acknowledging the unexpected support she has received from Riky Rick’s widow, Bianca Naidoo. As she counts down the days to the second anniversary of AKA’s tragic death, Nakai has opened up about how the pain of losing someone she loved so deeply is still fresh and challenging.

In February 2023, AKA (real name Kiernan Jarryd Forbes) was gunned down outside a Durban restaurant, along with his close friend, chef and entrepreneur Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane. The pair had been preparing for a night of celebrations for the Forbes family birthday when they were tragically shot in a senseless act of violence. For Nadia Nakai, the loss was not only that of a partner, but also a central figure in her life. The grief she’s experienced since that day is something she is still coming to terms with, especially as the anniversary of his death approaches.

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In a candid interview with *Sowetan*, Nadia Nakai reflected on the overwhelming emotions of the past two years. She shared how certain times of the year, particularly the December to March period, bring the hardest waves of grief. The holidays in particular have been excruciating, with the Christmas season marking the second year she has spent without Kiernan by her side.

“The past couple of months have been tough,” Nadia Nakai said. “Especially this past Christmas because I spent it alone… the one before was beautiful, we had a blended family. New Year’s was also difficult because the one before I was with Kiernan on the road… There are so many memories. But December to March is the hardest period of my life at the moment.”

One of the rare moments of solace Nadia Nakai has found during this grieving period is through her connection with Bianca Naidoo, the widow of her late peer Riky Rick. Naidoo, whose husband passed away a year before AKA, has been a source of understanding and empathy for Nadia Nakai, offering support that only someone who has experienced a similar loss could provide. Nadia Nakai has expressed how invaluable Bianca’s guidance has been in helping her navigate her emotions, particularly as someone who had never experienced such profound loss before.

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“Kiernan was the first close person I’ve ever lost… his funeral was the first I’ve ever been to. So, this grieving process is quite new to me,” Nakai explained. “The person I found comfort in and had conversations with was Bianca Naidoo. She has been quite instrumental in helping me deal with this pain because she knows how it feels to lose someone you loved who was a superstar.”

Like Nadia Nakai, Bianca has had to face the emotional weight of her late husband’s public life. Riky Rick, a beloved figure in South Africa’s hip-hop community, was celebrated not only for his music but for his deep connection with fans. Nakai has noted that Bianca’s experience of grieving someone who was a public figure, just as she is now grieving AKA, has created a deep bond between them. Nakai shared that talking to Bianca helped her understand that she wasn’t alone in her experience.

“Much like me, she had to deal with seeing and hearing Riky Rick everywhere,” Nadia Nakai said. “Confiding in her helped me quite a lot.”

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For Nadia Nakai, the holidays were particularly challenging, as they made her face the reality of the loneliness she now experiences. Before AKA’s death, the couple had a vibrant, blended family dynamic, with Kiernan playing a central role in bringing Nakai closer to his family. His absence during these special moments has intensified the feelings of isolation, and Nakai admitted that she often finds herself longing for those joyful, together moments they once shared.

While the grieving process is ongoing, Nadia Nakai continues to find solace in small pockets of happiness, even as she navigates one of the most difficult times in her life. The support she receives from Bianca Naidoo has become a vital source of strength in this journey of healing, providing her with a safe space to process her grief with someone who understands the complexity of mourning a public figure while privately wrestling with profound personal loss.

As she moves forward, Nakai continues to honor the memory of her late partner, while also acknowledging the importance of leaning on those who have walked a similar path. Though the pain remains, she is grateful for the moments of peace she can steal amidst the turmoil and is slowly learning to live with the memories of the man she once called her own.

In other news – Wicknell Chivayo shows generosity, gifts Chibaya Headmaster’s wife US$4K

Prominent businessman Wicknell Chivayo has once again showcased his generosity by stepping in to help save the life of Misheck Chenjerai, a headmaster from Chibaya who required urgent heart surgery in India. Wicknell Chivayo’s heartwarming gesture of covering all the medical expenses for the surgery has made headlines, with many praising him for his selflessness and commitment to making a difference in people’s lives.

The story was shared by journalist Christine Charumbira, who highlighted how Chivayo not only paid for the surgery but also went above and beyond to offer support once Chenjerai returned to Zimbabwe. Read More

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