Was AKA trolling Pearl Thusi on his song ‘Company’?

Media personality and actress Pearl Thusi has taken longer than most to listen to AKA’s final album, titled Mass Country, listing personal reasons for the delay. 

She explained why in a lengthy Instagram post focused on the lyrics of the new hit that she finally decided to listen to while in California for last week’s Coachella Music Festival. 

“Sorry I took long to really listen properly. It was still too painful,” she wrote in a caption addressed to the slain rapper. 

“I miss you bro. I even miss arguing with you… You should be proud of this one… Wherever you are,” Thusi added. 

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‘Diamonds ain’t gqim shelele’

In her breakdown of the lyrics, Pearl Thusi even mentioned the line “Diamonds ain’t gqim shelele” and joked that AKA was “trolling” her with the lyric.

“Gqim shelele” is an iconic South African catchphrase associated with veteran sports broadcaster Robert Marawa, who often signed off with the phrase at the end of his broadcasts. It is also the name of his recently-released memoir. 

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Robert Marawa and Pearl Thusi broke up in 2017, about a year after first going public with their relationship. 

It is unclear when their relationship began as the pair tried to keep a low profile and kept mum about their relationship when rumours about their romance started spreading. They did, however, go public in 2016, and later went on to get engaged. 

The couple, sadly, never made it down the aisle but have insisted that they remain cordial and show mutual respect for each other since their split. 

What does ‘gqim shelele’ mean? 

Over the years, many have asked what the phrase “gqim shelele” meant, but Marawa has played coy with the answer, opting to explain it in his memoir.

When asked what the phrase meant in a February 2023 interview with GQ South Africa, he simply responded: “They must go and buy my book and they’ll find it buried in there, somewhere. So, go buy my book titled Gqim Shelele and all will be explained”.

Earlier this year, he began a new journey on a new platform after signing a lucrative deal with Primedia. 

In addition to joining 947, his highly acclaimed sports show Marawa Sports Worldwide also ”embarked on a historic journey” on three other unique platforms in the form of Vuma FM, RISE FM and Sowetan Live. 

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