The legacy of one of South Africa's cultural icons will continue to grow when the Riky Rick Foundation for the Promotion of Artivism, together with the Naledi Village Communal Property Association and Rustlers Valley Regenerative Farm and Eco-Tourism, is officially launching the Riky Rick / Anton Chaka Memorial Forest on Saturday, 18 and Sunday, 19 July.

Taking place at Rustlers Valley in the Eastern Free State, the two-day gathering aims to mark the beginning of a long-term environmental, cultural and healing initiative that honours the lives and enduring impact of Riky Rick (Rikhado Makhado) and Anton Chaka through the creation of a living forest, says the partnership.

Rather than building a traditional monument, the partners behind the initiative say they have chosen to create a space where nature, memory and community intersect: a place where every tree planted represents remembrance, resilience and hope for future generations.

The Memorial Forest seeks to inspire conversations around healing, mental wellbeing, environmental restoration and collective responsibility, while celebrating lives that continue to influence South African society through creativity, courage and compassion, says the partnership.

Guests attending the inaugural gathering will participate in a programme designed with the aim to reconnect people with the land and with one another. Activities will include memorial tree planting, healing and reflection sessions, community storytelling, earth connection experiences and ceremonial moments of remembrance, adds the partnership.

The programme will also honour the legacy of Frik Grobelaar, whose stewardship of Rustlers Valley during the early 1980s helped support the establishment of Naledi Village and contributed significantly to advancing community aspirations in the region, says the partnership.

For the Riky Rick Foundation, the Memorial Forest represents an evolution of its mission to promote artivism — the intersection of creativity, activism and social change — while extending Riky Rick's legacy beyond music into environmental stewardship and community healing.

"Riky believed deeply in people," says Louisa Zondo, Executive Director of the Riky Rick Foundation for the Promotion of Artivism. "His greatest gift was making others feel seen, heard and worthy of their dreams. The Memorial Forest is an extension of that belief. Every tree planted becomes a symbol of hope, renewal and the reminder that even after loss, life continues to grow."

"We want this space to become one where families, young people and communities can gather to heal, reflect, create and reconnect with themselves, each other and the natural world. It is about transforming grief into growth and ensuring that Riky's legacy continues to inspire generations in a meaningful and lasting way," adds Zondo.

The Foundation says it believes that creating physical spaces dedicated to reflection and regeneration has become increasingly important as communities navigate the growing mental health challenges affecting South Africans, particularly young people.

The Memorial Forest aims to offer a different kind of legacy: one that continues to evolve with every season. As the forest grows, so too will opportunities for education, environmental restoration, community engagement and cultural storytelling, says the partnership.

Located within the landscape of Rustlers Valley, long recognised for its commitment to sustainability, regenerative farming and ecological conservation, the site aims to provide a fitting home for a project centred on restoring both people and place, adds the partnership.

The initiative also aims to reflect a growing global movement that recognises forests and green spaces not only as environmental assets, but as places of remembrance, healing and cultural significance, says the partnership.

By bringing together artists, families, environmental custodians, community leaders and supporters, the organisers hope the launch weekend will mark the beginning of an enduring national legacy.

The event is expected to attract members of the arts community, conservationists, mental health advocates, local residents and individuals whose lives have been touched by the work and influence of Riky Rick and Anton Chaka, says the partnership.

While the inaugural launch takes place over two days, organisers say they envision the Memorial Forest becoming an ongoing destination where annual commemorations, educational programmes, environmental initiatives and community gatherings will continue for many years to come.

Ultimately, the project invites South Africans to consider a different way of remembering those who have shaped society, not through statues or plaques alone, but through living landscapes that continue to nurture life, says the partnership.

Event details:

  • Event: Launch of the Riky Rick / Anton Chaka Memorial Forest
  • Date: Saturday, 8 to Sunday, 19 July.
  • Venue: Rustlers Valley Regenerative Farm and Eco-Tourism, Eastern Free State.

According to the partnership, the programme includes:

  • memorial tree planting
  • healing and reflection sessions
  • community storytelling
  • earth connection activities, and
  • ceremonial moments of remembrance and restoration.

As trees take root across the valley this July, they will stand as enduring reminders that legacies are not only remembered; they are grown, concludes the partnership.

For more information, visit www.rikyrickfoundation.co.za. You can also follow the Riky Rick Foundation on Instagram. 

*Image courtesy of contributor