WATCH: Team KZN pays homage to AKA on Clash of the Choirs to show that the province ‘loves AKA’

The choir representing KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) on Clash of the Choirs SA (COTCSA) paid homage to AKA and its leader Ntencane said they paid homage to the late rapper to show that KZN loved him.

“We decided to do a medley of his songs so that people can see that KZN loves AKA and appreciates his work,” said team leader Ntencane.

KZN’s affection for AKA came into question after Kiernan “AKA” Forbes was gunned down outside a restaurant in Durban on February 10. The mother of AKA’s daughter DJ Zinhle pulled out of an event, Fact Durban Rocks at the Durban July, stating she was not comfortable travelling to Durban yet.

Since his death, there had been speculation that AKA’s murder was retribution the death of his former girlfriend, Anele ‘Nelli’ Tembe, who was from Durban. The ambiguity surrounding Tembe’s death led people to think AKA was assassinated.

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Impressed judges

The Mzansi Magic music competition premiered in September after a seven-year absence.  The show is premised on a team of celebrity choirmasters who each put together a choir to represent each South African province, in the hope of winning R1 million.

Team KZN is led by Maskandi artist Ntencane and they closed off the last episode by covering AKA’s hits, which left the judges impressed.

“I enjoyed it… Ntencane, you rapped so beautifully, it’s like you were performing at Moses Mabhida Stadium,” said former The Soil singer Buhlebendalo Mda.

Gospel artists Dr Tumi concurred: “I love how you have a very different creative mind in how you arrange your songs.”

“As the competition gets higher and higher, the choirs get challenged on their creativity and how they view music,” Buhlebendalo had said earlier on the show.

The last episode saw Team Gauteng, which is led by Prince Kaybee eliminated after performing a Hugh Masekela classic.  

“I’m not sure about how the leads blended together, but the song was nicely arranged,” Dr Tumi shared his thoughts on their rendition of Thanayi.

Topping the episode’s COTCSA charts were Eastern Cape’s Team Lady Du. Their cover of Sfiso Ncwane’s Kulungile Baba was described as “just magical” by Buhlebendalo, while Zwai Bala told the choir that their performance was moving.

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