Bianca Naidoo, the wife of late award-winning rapper Riky Rick, says she is still learning to cope without him.
The Sondela hitmaker – real name Rikhado Muziwendlovu Makhado – took his own life on 23 February 2022 at his home located in the northern region of Johannesburg.
BIANCA OPENS UP ABOUT NAVIGATING LIFE WITHOUT RIKY RICK
During a recent interview on the Wisdom & Wellness podcast, Bianca revealed that she started therapy after Riky’s passing. She said before losing him, she had been in survival mode as she learnt from a young age to figure things out on her own.
“Riky’s passing definitely made me realise that I have been in survival mode for the longest time and not paying attention to what is necessarily important, because I feel like ‘I’ve got this, I can figure it out on my own’,”Bianca shared.
“I think I’ve navigated it every well, but last year brought me to a point where I was like ‘okay, I can’t do this anymore. I need to start living and being honest with myself and feelings’”.
The mother-of-two, who had been with Riky since 2013 until his passing, said she thinks about the musician every day.
“It’s been tough, it really has been. It feels like it’s new and you’re starting again and I honestly take one day at a time trying to figure it out. Fortunately, for me in a lot of day-to-day things, I did it anyway.
Having learnt to make almost every decision with her husband, Bianca said she still considers how the Sidl’ Ukotini hitmaker would have navigated some obstacles.
“There’s not a day that goes by or a moment that goes by that I don’t think of him in things I’m doing. Every day is having to go through that and you just have to go through it.”
‘I DON’T KNOW IF I’VE STARTED GRIEVING’
Bianca also shared that she is still mourning Ricky’s passing.
“I don’t even know if I’ve started grieving. What is it? Because I have my good moments and then I have moments where I totally shut down.
“I kind of block everything and everyone out when that happens because I just need that time to go through it on my own and be okay.
“Losing a partner is so different, because this person becomes your best friend, you do everything with them. There’s kids involved, and when there’s kids involved there’s a lot of guilt from the other parent not being around.”
If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, contact these numbers for help.
Suicide Crisis Line: 0800 567 567
SADAG Mental Health Line: 011 234 4837