I'M TRYING TO KEEP GOING!

Riky Rick’s partner opens up about life

- NOKUTHULA ZWANE-EJIKE  

A TATTOO on her arm is her way of feeling close to the husband who was ripped suddenly from her life nearly a year ago. 

The inkwork is of one of her favourite pictures of him: his fingers are covering one eye, his hands are adorned with rings and he’s wearing chains around his neck.

She thinks of him every time she sees the image, remembering the loving father he was, the caring husband, the driven musician, the caring soul who worked hard to cultivate and support new talent.

Her two children are also constant reminders of him, Bianca Naidoo says, and of the family unit they once cherished. 

Yet, while Riky Rick’s death has left a gaping hole in their lives, the 40-year-old mom of two is working hard to preserve his legacy and it’s helping to fill the void.

She’s involved with organising Cotton Fest, the festival the rapper founded in 2019 to celebrate up-and-coming artists, which will be held in Johannesburg on 4 February.

Bianca has also helped to revamp Legends Barbershop, Riky’s salon franchise.

“We’ve been able to celebrate his 35 years of life,” she says.

“I’m grateful to my family and for being able to do the first Cotton Fest in Cape Town [in December last year]. I ’m grateful for an amazing team that understand his vision, and who respect and understand me.”

Despite her heartache and workload, Bianca greets us with a warm hug and a big smile when she welcomes us to her home in Waterfall, Midrand.

She’s just collected kids Jordan (14) and Maik (8) from school and her phone won’t stop ringing with calls about Cotton Fest.

“Things have been hectic,” she tells us, “but we’re going to have a nice chat now.”