Riky Rick’s mother, Louisa Zondo at Mount Everest Base Camp. Picture: Supplied
Award-winning Mzansi artist, Riky Rick’s mother, Louisa Zondo has finally reached Mount Everest Base Camp.
After 10 days of trekking with Riky Rick’s aunt Xoliswa Kakana, reflection and connecting with Riky, Zondo achieved her goal of standing 5 364m above sea level.
“We finally reached Mount Everest Base Camp on our Day 10 of the trek. Aunt Xoli and I were exhilarated! Among other things, I was caught up in the realisation that at that moment I was standing 5364m above sea level, at this place that I had hoped to get to since 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic intervened.
“The concrete immediacy of each moment’s walking, challenges and lessons had the effect of disaggregating the trek quite significantly, however arrival at Base Camp brought everything together. In this expansive state, ‘MaRiky’, I laid out something of a memorial for you at the Base Camp rock,” she said.
She posted pictures of things that she had taken with her on the journey and said. “Your beloved wife, Bianca, and children – Jordan and Maik – had sent me off with a few memorabilia. Singing Methodist Xhosa Hymn 259 – Ndinik’amehlo Ndikhangele … I lay out a ‘Riky Rick … We Multiply’ T-shirt on the rock.
“Above it was a chain containing: medallion of St Michael – the archangel who among other virtues helps us in our hour of death – as a symbolic representation of Bianca and the kids’ prayers; a St Christopher medallion representing my travel prayers for all of us; and a medallion with a ‘MaRiky’ engraving.
“The last medallion is the beautiful product of young talented jewellers at the tattoo joint that your friends recently opened up in Braam Square. I laid it as your family’s commitment to carrying forward your legacy of caring for and supporting young people,” she said.
Reaching your destination when you trek leaves many speechless and Zondo was no exception.
“At Base Camp, everything came together in that amazing ‘contraction-and-expansion’ pattern of the universe, ‘MaRiky’. All I could do at this point was to keep bowing in gratitude, joy, peace and hope. I could never find the words to clearly set out the depth of awakening that coming to Base Camp and communicating with you through ritual, was to me. Thank you for helping me to come to such knowing and feeling, ‘MaRiky’.
“Thank you so much for enabling so many to connect with your family, your loved ones and I, and to hold us up in immense love and generous support as we continue to grieve your departure from this realm of life together.
“I love you ‘MaRiky‘. We can never forget you,” she said.
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