Riky Rick's mother creates memorial for her son at Mount Everest Base Camp
Bianca Naidoo gave Riky Rick's mother special items to leave at the base camp in honour of her late husband.
Riky Rick's mother, Louisa Zondo, is celebrating a huge milestone. She reached Mount Everest Base Camp last week after 10 days of trekking to the site.
Louisa planned the journey before the rapper's death in February and decided to dedicate the trip to her beloved son.
After nearly two weeks of trekking, she finally reached the base camp. It was an emotional moment for Louisa, who was joined by Riky's aunt Xoliswa Kakana.
"Aunt Xoli and I were exhilarated! Among other things, I was caught up in the realisation that at that moment I was standing 5364m above sea level, at this place that I had hoped to get to since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic intervened," Louisa wrote.
Despite the difficult journey, Louisa says arriving at the base camp "brought everything together". She left a special memorial for her son at the site, including special items from his wife, Bianca Naidoo, and their two children.
"Your beloved wife, Bianca, and children - Jordan and Maik - had sent me off with a few memorabilia. Singing Methodist Xhosa Hymn 259 - Ndinik’amehlo Ndikhangele… I lay out a “Riky Rick…We Multiply” tee-shirt on the rock. Above it was a chain containing: (a) medallion of St Michael - the archangel who among other virtues helps us in our hour of death - as a symbolic representation of Bianca and the kids’ prayers."
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"The last medallion is the beautiful product of young talented jewellers at the tattoo joint that your friends recently opened up in Braam Square. I laid it as your family’s commitment to carrying forward your legacy of caring for and supporting young people."
Reaching the base camp was a full circle moment for Riky Rick's mother.
"At Base Camp, everything came together in that amazing “contraction-and-expansion” pattern of the universe., MaRiky. All I could do at this point was to keep bowing in gratitude, joy, peace and hope. I could never find the words to clearly set out the depth of awakening that coming to Base Camp and communicating with you through ritual, was to me," Louisa concluded.
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Meanwhile, Riky Rick's annual Cotton Fest concert will go on as planned. This year's show was set to take place on 19 and 20 March but was postponed indefinitely following his death.
Riky's wife confirmed last month that the sold-out festival has been moved to 23 and 24 April in Johannesburg.
"We have to continue to keep his spirit and legacy alive. What better way to do this than to continue the work Riky has already started. Cotton Fest needs to go ahead as planned by him! His love and belief in showcasing young and upcoming talent is unquestionable, which is how Cotton Fest came about a few years back," Bianca said in a statement.
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Main image credit: Instagram/@louisazondo, @rikyrickworld