When it comes to iconic names in South African hip hop, “Supa Mega” stands tall, not just as a nickname but as a full-blown cultural identity. The late AKA, real name Kiernan Forbes, wore the moniker like royalty but many fans have always questioned where the name Supa Mega come from.
In a recent interview teaser on the More Than Management Podcast, longtime friend, manager, and industry insider Sbuda Roc finally cleared the air.
“The way the Supa Mega term came from is because Don Jazzy had a song called Doromega, and we were always like: yeah, you’re on a superstar mentality. You’re actually a mega super star. The Don Jazzy song made us put those together, like you are SUPAMEGA,” Sbuda detailed.
He further explained that the song actually made them put together that AKA is Super Mega.
What started as an inside joke or casual phrase among close friends quickly turned into one of the most powerful branding elements in SA hip hop history. The name stuck and soon after, so did the identity, AKA was no longer just Kiernan Forbes, the rapper, he was Supa Mega, the larger-than-life artist with a cult-like following and unmatched confidence.
By the time AKA released projects like Levels and Touch My Blood, the name Supa Mega had already gone viral. Fans screamed it at shows, the media picked it up and merchandise carried the name. Even AKA himself started to refer to the title with pride, stamping it across his visuals, verses, and social media.
But more than just a nickname, Supa Mega represented a level of excellence and elevation that Kiernan stood for. It became a statement of intent to dream big, deliver bigger, and dominate every room he walked into.
More than business partners, Sbuda and AKA shared a brotherhood, forged in studios, late-night planning sessions, and the highs and lows of the music industry. Sbuda was there during pivotal career moments from brand campaigns to award wins and played a key part in shaping AKA’s image and brand narrative.
This deep connection is what gives his retelling of the Supa Mega origin story weight. It wasn’t manufactured by a PR team but was organic, born from the culture, from a song called Dorobucci where there was line that said doromega, and from a moment of inspiration among creatives who believed in something bigger.
What makes the Supa Mega title so impactful is how it encapsulated AKA’s approach to life and music. It wasn’t just a stage name, it was a philosophy. Whether it was selling out venues, collaborating with global stars, or starting viral trends, AKA did it with the energy of someone who truly believed he was built different and he was.
For fans, the name represents an era, for the industry, it set the benchmark and for those closest to him, like Sbuda Roc, it will always be a symbol of the legacy Kiernan Forbes left behind.
As the culture continues to reflect on AKA’s legacy, it’s stories like this that remind us of the human side of hip hop icons, the friendships, the studio moments, the laughter that led to nicknames that became household names.
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