Riky Rick’s voice brought back to life to promote mental well-being in young people
The launch of the Riky Rick Foundation for the Promotion of Artivism revealed that his family have kept their promises to Rikhado in a profound and unusual way.
‘God gave us the gift of life Now it’s up to ourselves to to gift ourselves our own gift of living it well… I just want to leave something that people can build on When I’m gone my legacy lives on… Never forget that we are much stronger when we move together Let’s be happy, we won’t live forever.” Riky Rick (Stronger)
During his short professional life Rikhado (“Riky Rick”) Makhado was one of the most well-loved, successful and respected of a new generation of South African hip hop artists. Based on his award-winning album Family Values, subsequent songs and the leadership he provided in the industry, he was described as “a source of positive energy, a person whose words uplifted everyone around him”.
As a result, his suicide on 23 February 2022 at the age of 34 was a terrible shock to family, friends and fans.
Amid terrible grief and loss, Makhado’s death made many people think about the increasing prevalence of undiagnosed and/or undisclosed mental illness and depression in young people, the stigma and silence that surrounds it and the need to develop strategies and systems of care to overcome it.
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