Former Mzansi MC Ricky Rick's Cotton Fest Postponed To April

When Ricky Rick passed away he was in the process of pushing the campaign of his annual Cotton Fest. 

The magnificent show attracts thousands of different fans every year, was originally scheduled for 19 and 20 March 2022 by Ricky himself.

Early on January 2022 Ricky posted on social networks:

"WE NEVER DIE. WE MULTIPLY. 

I'm very excited to announce the 3rd annual @cottonfestjhb is set to take place over 2 days, 19 & 20 March 2022 at The Station, Newtown, Johannesburg. We Back!!!!!

This year we bring you the UNIVERSITY OF COTTON FEST. Our multi-layered university campus experience includes 3 stages featuring over 100 of South Africa's finest performers and DJs.

Class of 2022🙃 LET'S MAKE HISTORY."

But unfortunately on 23 February 2022, the family of rapper Rapper, Rikhado “Riky Rick,” Makhado (34) confirmed that he had passed away.

In a statement released on behalf of the late rapper's wife Bianca Naidoo, she confirmed that Cotton Fest is scheduled to go ahead as planned.

“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,” Bianca said.

“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 says this is what Riky would have wanted to happen and she wants to carry on his legacy.

“And in his own words - we never die, we multiply! Let’s build on this energy and continue to spread the love and light at a time when we need it the most.”

The statement released by the Cotton Fest Team reads: 

"Known for showcasing the diversities in various music genres with the aim of fusing the gaps within the different local movements, Riky Rick created the festival to merge both well-known and young emerging SA artists. Cotton Fest will now take place on the 23rd and 24 April in Newtown, Johannesburg. The team apologises for any inconvenience caused to current ticket holders who might not be able to attend on these new days. The weekend line-up will be announced later this month.”

At his memorial service, masses gathered at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg to bid Riky Rick farewell.

Friends said their last goodbyes in song and in a tribute speech, Sizwe Dhlomo revealed that Riky Rick had planned to publicly reconcile with Cassper Nyovest at the annual Cotton Fest and make him the surprise guest. 

“Let’s learn from Riky, even about forgiveness and reconciliation. This upcoming Cotton Fest, he was going to publicly make up with Cassper, live on stage. He’d reached out to him, last year September. They had spoken even all the way into January, and they were actually on good terms at the time of his passing,” Sizwe Dhlomo said.

The sophomore Cotton Fest debuted in 2019  at The Station on Mandela Bridge, Newtown, Johannesburg. This festival is for the young, creative, and fashionable generation, who labelled themselves as “Cotton Eaters” because of their love for fashion...And who can deny that Ricky himself was a cotton eater, I mean....The man was a fashion killer.