RIKY RICK: LOVE PERSONIFIED
Nothing could be more daunting than to pen a tribute to one of the icons of not just music but the entire African entertainment industry: Rikhado Muziwendlovu Makhado or Riky Rick. There is a Nguni belief that our names are prophetic, and they follow us wherever we go. Muziwendlovu can be loosely translated to “house of an elephant.” It is clear that the Makhado family knew their son would grow up to be a giant. However, I do not think even they imagined just how many lives he would touch.
Most South Africans were introduced to Riky Rick through his song “Nafukwa” in 2014. But the song that made him a household name was his hit single “Boss Zonke” from his 2015 debut album, Family Values.
SIKHALA SONKE NGO BOSS ZONKE
“I’ll return a stronger man, this land is still my home.” These were the words in Riky Rick’s last tweet before news of his untimely passing broke on the morning of 23 February. Death of any kind always catches us by surprise; it is the one certainty that life has, but we can never quite get used to it. If there was one word that described the reaction to news of Makhado’s suicide, it would be disbelief. However, the mood of disbelief was quickly overwhelmed by a downpour from everyone in the entertainment industry and South Africans in general. That is where one really finally got to grasp just how much of a loving person Muziwendlovu was.
Big Zulu, Uncle Vinny, AKA, and the whole entertainment industry poured their hearts out, sharing our shared sense of loss of someone who taught many in the industry how to love. Riky Rick spoke a language of love wherever he went. Taking care of each other was the gospel he preached. He believed in the youth, and through innovations like the Cotton-On Fest, he opened doors for young people and gave them opportunities that he might have struggled to get when he was younger. Whenever Riky was present in the room, love was present, too.