By: Natasha Archary
AKA says he’s seen so much suicide over the past year that he’s unable to feel anything anymore. Calling for a dialogue for men in the country, AKA says men are crying for help.
This comes after news that rapper Riky Rick allegedly died by suicide on Wednesday, 23 February.
Since the Boss Zonke artist’s passing, more celebrities have opened up about their battle with depression.
But, the problem is, according to AKA, affecting men more because he feels they have no one to talk to.
“We just pat each other on the back and say, “get on with it, be strong my boi!” AKA shared.
The conversation on Kaya Drive this week touched on the societal pressure on men to hide their emotions and “make a plan.”
In South Africa, a hundred thousand people die from suicide annually, of which twenty thousand are black men.
Generational trauma
Taking to his Instagram, Kiernan Forbes better known by his stage-name AKA, said men are dealing with so much trauma.
Sharing a picture with DJ Tira and Riky Rick, AKA opened up saying, “Ladies, we are not perfect by any means, but damn, we are crying out for your approval, your love and affection. We are traumatised.”
DJ Tira also shared AKA’s sentiments, tweeting, no one cares about men.
No one cares about us! Asinakiwe!
— Makoya Bearings (@DJTira) February 23, 2022
The Tears Run Dry artist spoke out about being diagnosed with clinical depression last year.
AKA was prescribed medication to make him “feel numb” after his fiancé Nellie Tembe died tragically in April 2021.
He shared that there’s misconception around mental health, with many questioning why someone as successful and financially stable as Riky Rick would choose suicide.
Riky Rick had just partnered with African Bank and had released a new track, Sondela, which was doing well on streaming platforms.
AKA stressed that money meant nothing when a man is crying out for help silently.
“Please, can we RESET and go back to FAMILY VALUES? Can we (myself included) start going to church again. Please, can we start some sort of dialogue about MEN in this country?” AKA stressed that more needs to be done.
Since the beginning of the year, two South African men in the entertainment industry are said to have died from suicide.
Patrick Shai and although not confirmed, it is alleged that Riky Rick took his own life too.
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Also read: DJ Speedsta lashes out at Uncle Vinny and Uncle Waffles for what they did to Riky
