A living legacy is about to take root in the Eastern Free State. The soon-to-be-unveiled Riky Rick/Anton Chaka Memorial Forest is a celebration of lives lived with immense creativity, courage, and compassion.
Eastern Free State, South Africa (03 July 2026) – Remembrance will transform into regeneration in the Eastern Free State as the Riky Rick Foundation prepares to launch something truly special: the Riky Rick/Anton Chaka Memorial Forest.
The legacy of one of South Africa’s most influential cultural icons will continue to grow (quite literally) when the Riky Rick Foundation for the Promotion of Artivism, together with the Naledi Village Communal Property Association and Rustlers Valley Foundation NPC and Eco-Tourism, officially 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 gathering will 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.
Rather than creating a traditional monument, the partners behind the initiative are planting a place where nature, memory and community intersect: a green living space where every tree will carry a story of 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 two lives whose creativity, courage and compassion continue to leave a lasting imprint on South African society.
Guests attending the inaugural gathering will take part in a programme designed to reconnect people with the land, with memory and with one another. Activities will include memorial tree planting, healing and reflection sessions, community storytelling, earth connection experiences and ceremonial moments of remembrance.
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.
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 a space rooted in environmental stewardship, community healing and shared renewal.
“Riky believed deeply in people,” says Louisa Zondo, Executive Director of the Riky Rick Foundation for the Promotion of Artivism.
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“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.”
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The Memorial Forest offers a different kind of legacy: one that will continue to breathe, grow and evolve with every season. As the forest takes root, so too will opportunities for education, environmental restoration, community engagement and cultural storytelling.
Located within the unique landscape of Rustlers Valley, long recognised for its commitment to sustainability, regenerative farming and ecological conservation, the site provides a fitting home for a project centred on restoring both people and place.
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 carried forward by the land and the people who gather there.
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.
While the inaugural launch takes place over two days, organisers envision the Memorial Forest becoming an ongoing destination where annual commemorations, educational programmes, environmental initiatives and community gatherings can continue to honour the enduring impact of Riky Rick and Anton Chaka 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 offer shade, beauty, healing and life.
Event Details
- Event: Launch of the Riky Rick/Anton Chaka Memorial Forest
- Date: 18–19 July 2026
- Venue: Rustlers Valley Regenerative Farm and Eco-Tourism, Eastern Free State
Sources: Supplied
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