Nigerian rapper Ice Prince Zamani has opened up about the pain he still feels over the death of his close friend and South African superstar, AKA.

Speaking on the G2G Podcast, Ice Prince revealed that their friendship suffered a strain after AKA’s controversial tweets during the 2019 xenophobic attacks in South Africa. He admitted that although he called AKA out publicly at the time, they never had the chance to reconcile before AKA’s tragic death.

The rapper explained that this has continued to trouble him, but he has since sought peace through prayer.

“I wish we had gotten to speak about it because we never did. And it hurt me so bad because that’s my friend. AKA wasn’t just an artist I collaborated with — he was at my house in Lagos many times,” Ice Prince said.

He added that during prayers, he sometimes sees AKA’s presence, which reassures him that they are now at peace.

“I still see him in my prayers. Sometimes when I’m praying, I see him there. So I know we are good. I know he looks out for me as one of my homeboys in heaven.”

Fans will recall that AKA was shot dead outside a restaurant in Durban on February 10, 2023. His murder trial is still ongoing.

For Ice Prince, however, the bond goes beyond music and beyond life itself — a friendship he believes has carried on into eternity.