Lookalike of late rapper AKA sparks debate on tribute performances and copyright issues
A video of an uncanny AKA lookalike performing the late rapper's songs has resurfaced on X, reigniting passionate debates about tribute performances, copyright concerns, and the preservation of the SA hip-hop icon's legacy. While club-goers cheer him on, online opinions remain sharply divided
Image: Instagram via: AKA
The appearance of a man resembling the late rapper AKA, performing the star's music at a club, has ignited a fresh debate among fans.
AKA, real name Kiernan Forbes, was gunned down in Durban's Florida Road in February 2023 while leaving the Wish restaurant. His friend, Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane, was also killed in the apparent hit.
A video of the lookalike, performing AKA's song "All eyes on me," originally shared on X in 2024, recently resurfaced on X, because user @busiwe_bubu reposted it. While the original post sparked discussions about potential copyright infringement, no action was taken at the time.
The resurfacing of the video is once again sparking intense fan discussion and reigniting the existing controversy.
While it is typical for online trends, especially on platforms like X, to quickly lead to the identification and "punishment" of the person responsible, the individual impersonator in this two-year-old case remains unidentified.
Surprisingly, the audience in the video appears to be enjoying the performance and doesn't seem to object to the impersonation, a reaction that contrasts sharply with the strong negative sentiment seen in online comments.
The excitement among the crowd may stem from the performer's resemblance to the late rapper AKA, suggesting the audience might be familiar with the individual.
One commenter, @blackguymfwethu, noted a similar local phenomenon: “Lol, there's another guy in my area who looks like AKA, and he ended up taking on the personality traits of Forbes 😂 Kiernan is the SA hip hop version of Michael Jackson.” This sentiment, viewing AKA as the “Michael Jackson of SA hip Hop,” was echoed by @brainothegenius, who saw the performance as a way to keep AKA's legacy alive.
However, another user, eevmalaza4i0x, criticized the act: “Why doesn't he just make his own songs and sing them. Using dead person songs to make money is not good.”
Conversely, Just_lordy defended the performer, focusing on bigger issues: “He is just a fan. I see nothing wrong. Focus on how AI music is stealing from artists, and real artists must be paid for AI music. Not this.”
Meanwhile, @OfDaSunKeanu injected some skepticism about the "lookalike" claim: “Lol, so dudes with the same complexion are lookalikes? 😂😂😂😂😂 Maaaaan, we really miss Super Mega.”
Other fans jokingly suggest cloning, thinking that the mysterious performer is a cloned version of AKA.
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