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Memorial tree planting at the Riky Rick and Anton Chaka Memorial Forest in the Eastern Free State.

The Riky Rick/Anton Chaka Memorial Forest will officially launch on 18 and 19 July 2026, creating a lasting living tribute to the late cultural icon and his legacy.

Home Entertainment Riky Rick’s Legacy to Live On Through Memorial Forest in the Free State

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Riky Rick’s Legacy to Live On Through Memorial Forest in the Free State

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Venecia Valentine

The legacy of one of South Africa’s most influential cultural icons will continue to grow when the Riky Rick Foundation for the Promotion of Artivism, in partnership with the Naledi Village Communal Property Association and Rustlers Valley Regenerative Farm and Eco-Tourism, launches the Riky Rick/Anton Chaka Memorial Forest on 18 and 19 July 2026.

Taking place at Rustlers Valley in the Eastern Free State, the two-day event marks the beginning of a long-term environmental, cultural and healing initiative honouring the lives of Riky Rick (Rikhado Makhado) and Anton Chaka through the creation of a living memorial forest.

A living tribute

Instead of creating a traditional monument, the partners have chosen to establish a space where nature, remembrance and community come together.

Every tree planted will symbolise resilience, hope and renewal while encouraging conversations around mental wellbeing, environmental restoration and collective responsibility.

Guests attending the inaugural gathering will participate in memorial tree planting, healing and reflection sessions, storytelling, earth connection experiences and ceremonial moments of remembrance.

The programme will also honour the legacy of Frik Grobelaar, whose stewardship of Rustlers Valley in the early 1980s helped support the establishment of Naledi Village and community development in the region.

Growing Riky Rick’s legacy

For the Riky Rick Foundation, the Memorial Forest expands its mission of promoting artivism by 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.

“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 be one where families, young people and communities can heal, reflect and reconnect with themselves, each other and the natural world.”

A space for future generations

Located within Rustlers Valley’s regenerative landscape, the Memorial Forest will continue to grow through annual commemorations, educational programmes, environmental initiatives and community gatherings.

By bringing together artists, families, conservationists, mental health advocates and local communities, the project aims to create a lasting legacy that celebrates lives which continue to inspire South Africans.

As the first trees take root this July, they will stand as a reminder that the greatest legacies are not only remembered, but nurtured and grown.