Mzansi is reeling following the sudden death of award-winning rapper Rikhado “Riky Rick” Miziwendlovu Makhado. The KwaZulu-Natal born music producer died in the early hours of Wednesday morning, apparently after losing his battle against a mental illness. He was 34.
“Riky’s nurturing and developing of young musical talent is well documented and will forever be remembered,” said his family in a media release.
Makhado’s death has now sparked deeper conversations about men prioritising their mental health.
“Mental health is like a glass of water. If you take a glass of water and you continue to pour more into it when it is full, ultimately the water overflows. It overflows all the way onto the floor leaving you with a mess,” observes Lumka Mabo, a Pretoria-based clinical psychologist.
Makhado had previously spoken about his struggles with depression and anxiety following the death of his father. “I have suffered from chronic depression [and] a lot of medical anxieties that I don’t like to share too much because it is something I want to deal with internally,” he said in a 2020 interview with the Lab Live podcast series.
“I always said, my first album would be my last album because I didn’t expect to make it past 25, I didn’t expect to make it past 26. For me I wanted to go out young, like 2Pac. I wanted to die like a Kurt Cobain,” he continued.
“Suicidal thoughts are not anything new to me… I can testament to people [that] I know what suicidal thoughts are. I have been to that dark place. We’ve swallowed the pills. We’ve done that.”
Speculations of suicide erupted following a cryptic tweet in the early hours of Wednesday morning. “I’ll return a stronger man. This land is still my home,” Makhado shared in his tweet.
I’ll return a stronger man. This land is still my home.
— MR MAKHADO (@rikyrickworld) February 23, 2022
Makhado was the founder and owner of record label Cotton Club Records. He had also been gearing up for his annual Cotton Fest in March.
7 tips for coping with mental health issues
Meanwhile, Western Cape therapist Nicola van Zyl says therapy is as essential as the food we eat.
“The goal of therapy is to give you the tools and strategies for navigating whatever is going on in your life.”
Van Zyl is a licensed counsellor with the Centre for Care and Contact based in Kuilsrivier. She adds that while therapy is important, you should note that therapy is not a quick fix.
“A therapist isn’t going to just hand over some life-changing advice and call it a day. The best progress happens when you apply what you’ve learned outside that setting, in your real life.”
This means that you have the power to enact real change in the way you think, behave, and cope on a daily basis. Van Zyl shared these seven mental health tips on Instagram:
Actually try writing down your thoughts: Venting is awesome for a reason, it helps you get out your frustrations. You don’t need to do anything in-depth or lengthy, just take five minutes or so a day to write down your thoughts, feelings, or ideas.
When you’re super stressed and overwhelmed, see if there’s any way to put a positive spin on it: Stress happens, and it always sucks on some level, whether you’re overworked or overbooked or both. Still, you can take those moments when you’re totally overwhelmed and try to look for the good in them.
Plan to take daily, low-key walks (and actually do them!): Sometimes you just need to step away from what you’re doing or dealing with and get some air.
Counter negative thoughts with positive ones: Negative thoughts are just a part of life, but they don’t have to consume you. Instead of trying to ignore those thoughts altogether, try countering them with positive statements.
Make a list of “your people”: You know the ones these are the people you know you can always call, text, or email when you need to feel a connection.
Have a self-care arsenal: Everyone has certain things or coping mechanisms that give them a boost when they’re feeling crappy, and you might not even realize what yours are,
And the bottom line she adds, “There are a number of small but impactful ways to improve your mental health every day.”
Mzansi reacts to Ricky Rick’s death
Following news about the superstar’s death, many South Africans have taken to social media to express their shock.
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