South Africa bid farewell to Riky Rick following the shock suicide of the musician and hero to many.
As the shock finally suns in after the unexpected death of award-winning musician Riky Rick, whose given name is Rikhado Muziwendlovu Chifaro Makhado, close friends, family and selected media gathered to say their final goodbyes to the man who was also known as Boss Zonke to his beloved fans.
When the nation first heard of the news through Twitter, most fans hoped and prayed it was maybe a joke or fake news. They kept begging him on social media to please tweet or say anything to prove that he was alive and that the rumours of his death were just malicious. However, Friends and family would later confirmed the news to be true.
One of his last posts on Twitter left his followers puzzled and also assuming maybe it was another one of his “deep” and spiritual posts. No one assumed that it would be one of his last posts alive. In the post he wrote, “I’ll return a stronger man. This land is still my home.”
In his last interview with Drum, Riky said life was too short to not live it to the fullest. How the death of his friends and Amapiano stars Killer Kau, Mpura Mpura, TD, and Thando Tot, who died in a car crash on their way to a concert in the North West, was a wakeup call.
“It has taught me to appreciate people and be cognisant of every moment spent with people because they don’t last forever,” he said.
“It’s really about learning to appreciate people and everything that we go through daily and making time for family and loved ones.” He also spoke passionately about how his individuality as an artist was important and said it has not been easy.
“Fashion is another form of art. When you look good, you feel good. I knew that from a long ago. You can speak about how you feel through aesthetics and express how designers feel. It’s my other form of expression.” A few years ago, Riky spoke openly about his past addiction to drugs and overcoming addiction. “It hasn’t been easy, but the family has kept me grounded,” he said.
“Had it not been for a stable family, I would not be where I am today. I am in a very good place. Back then I was wild in my 20s, I am not in my 30 and I have grown up and learned to be better, taking care of my health and communicating better.”
The most important people in his life were his family. “My family and children have been good in helping me to grow up. It’s been good doing it with a support system. Then, we could go wherever and do whatever, but the family has given me a sense of direction.”
In the interview, he said his goal in life was to see his family and kids happy and healthy. “I try to live life at the moment and keep my family grounded, together, and healthy. That is my biggest priority and my main goal,” he said.
‘I’m sorry for being the one who gives up’- Riky Rick’s suicide letter
The recording superstar, who reportedly struggled with severe depression, took his own life by hanging himself with a rope in his music studio, a mere heartbeat away from his home in Waterfall Estate, north of Joburg, on Wednesday morning. As news of his suicide began to spread, certain quarters on social media began circulating rumours that he had ended it all because his marriage was on the brink of collapse.
However, the two suicide notes the widely celebrated musician penned in his last moments paint a picture of a man who was happily in love with his wife, Bianca Naidoo, and loved his two children so much that he believed the world would be a better place for them without him.
Leaked to us by a source in the artist’s inner circle, the two notes, one addressed to Naidoo and the other to his children Maik and Jordan, the Sidlikotini hitmaker said he committed suicide because of the severe pain he endured and the too many voices in his head.
Directly addressing his wife, he wrote: “Dear Bianca, this pain is too much. I don’t want you to blame yourself for my life being unbearable. This was the greatest period of my life. You gave me more love than I deserved. Please do not blame yourself. Live your life. Don’t hide the light you gave me every day.”
He then went further to explain his heart-rending decision as he apologised to his wife. “I’m sorry for being the one who gives up but the pain I feel is too much to deal with. The voices in my head have never gone away. I wish I was stronger but I’m not. Please forgive me. I love you so much. Be Happy. Smile. Everything is okay now,” reads the note.
On the second note to his children, the Boss Zonke hitmaker also apologised to his son Maik, who wanted to be like him, and pleaded with him to follow his passion.
“The other night Maik said he wants to be just like me. Not better in the sense of useless achievement, but better as in choosing the right path for his heart. Follow your passions my son. Your world is bigger than anything you could ever imagine. I love you !!,” he wrote.
It does appear that Ricky Rick took time to put together his painful feeling on paper during those last moments as he penned another message to Jordan, whom he said was an inspiration to him and the best thing that ever happened in his life.
“Jordan, the best thing that ever happened in my life. You taught me so much about life. Thank you for being so good to me.
Thank you for being such an inspiration to me. I love you. I’m sorry. Keep each other close. Love each other. Please don’t blame yourself. I cannot take the pain. I love you,” he wrote in his parting shot to Jordan.
Honouring Riky Rick as he is laid to rest
Makhado spent the last decade making waves in the entertainment industry, giving us hits such as Boss Zonke, Stay Shining, Nafukwa, Zulu Girls and his critically acclaimed studio album Family Values, putting him at the top of the food chain in local music. He was known and loved for his true passion for enriching and mentoring young talent, including the likes of Uncle Vinny and a lot more.
Riky Rick’s funeral was held on Tuesday, 01 March 2022. As the Master of Energy was laid to rest, many continue to pay tribute him, with love and words of adoration for Makhado and his family. The musician is survived by his wife Bianca Naidoo and two children.
His legacy will live on through some of the acts that he helped shape such as rapper, Emtee (given name Mthembeni Ndevu), who said that Makhado was a big inspiration for his fashion sense and Frank Casino, whose raw talent speaks volumes about Makhado’s astounding ear for music.
Bianca to Riky Rick: ‘He often said I was saving his life without realising. He too was saving mine’
“Today I am here to pay tribute to my partner, my soulmate, Bubzie. When I think about nine years together, here are the things I am grateful for,” she began in her message to Riky Rick at his funeral, a small, intimate ceremony attended by those closest to the family. “Our journey as parents started at the beginning of our relationship. He was an amazing father to Jordan; they had the most incredible journey since day one,” she said.
“Riky and I were then blessed with our beautiful son, Maik. We loved taking family trips and he taught us to connect with the locals and immersed ourselves in the culture of whatever land we found ourselves in. He loved them deeply, he was their protector, biggest fan, and Mandalorian (American space Western television series) and he will continue to be.”
The late rapper brought softness to his life and his to hers, Bianca continued. “He wanted me to shine and find what soul on fire, little did he know he was it.”
Being with her husband, she experienced unconditional love, she said. “Ours was a destined, preordained match as though God himself made it so we found each other in this lifetime. I was put in his life to love him, to help him on his journey to fulfil part of his purpose. Ours was a deep ,pure love,” she added.
“Part of my role was to help elevate and shine his light into the world and I will continue. His love for me was honest, authentic, and transcendent, as mine for him. He often said that I was saving his life without realising. But he too was saving mine.
“My king, my heart, my forever love. Thank you for giving us all that you had to give in this lifetime. Thank you for choosing me, teaching me, and believing in us. I will forever be grateful for your gift of you. I promise to give our children all your love and might.
“To keep your memory shining brightly I promise to continue fulfilling your purpose and honouring your memory and make sure your legacy lives on, in your children, your work, the whole time. To the fans, friends, and family. I thank you for your love and compassion and understanding and embracing Riky’s energy.”
Taking a line from Riky’s song, Stay Shining, Bianca quoted him, saying: “Riky would want you to remember this ‘ It’s gotta be right. It’s gotta good. It’s gotta be nice. Keep smiling for the joy. Keep looking for the joy. Stay shining.”
The Makhado family have thanked SA and the world for the outpouring of love they’ve received. They said they are “deeply moved by the global outpouring of support over the past three days”.
With Riky Rick having openly spoken about his mental health struggles, Sadag deputy board chair and clinical psychologist Zamo Mbele told TimesLIVE the musician’s death “must be a powerful reminder of the important and life-saving conversation about the problem of suicide in society. No-one should be next, let’s talk and let us help”.
“Escaping the pain, grief and distress that many people look to suicide for does not need to cost one’s life. Instead, through skilled help, you can escape your distress and save a life.”
For help, call Sadag’s suicide helpline 0800-567-567, Sadag helplines 0800-456-789 / 0800-21-22-23/ 0800-70-80-90 or SMS 31393 or www.sadag.org.
