Nigerian rapper Ice Prince Zamani is living with a weight on his heart that many of us can relate to – the regret of words left unsaid and relationships left unhealed.
In a recent appearance on the G2G Podcast, he shared something deeply personal about his relationship with the late South African rapper AKA, and it’s the kind of story that hits you right in the chest.
Back in 2019, things went south between the two artists.
During a particularly tense time when xenophobic attacks were happening in South Africa, AKA made some comments about Nigerians that didn’t sit well with Ice Prince.
Like any of us would when someone we care about says something hurtful, Ice Prince called him out publicly. But what started as standing up for his people turned into a rift that would never get the chance to heal.
“I wish we got to talk about our misunderstanding because we never did, and it hurt me so much,” Ice Prince said, his voice carrying the kind of pain that comes from knowing time has run out.
“AKA wasn’t just someone I worked with—he was a real friend. He’s been to my house in Lagos a few times. It pains me that we never got to sort things out.”
But Ice Prince has found his own way to make peace with the situation.
Through prayer and reflection, he’s managed to find some comfort in what feels like an impossible situation. “I’ve prayed about it so many times, and I still see him in my prayers,” he shared.
“Sometimes, when I’m praying, I feel him there. I know we’re at peace now, and I believe he’s looking out for me as one of my homeboys in heaven.”
The tragedy became even more heartbreaking when AKA was shot and killed outside a restaurant in Durban in February 2023.
