Cotton Fest, one of South Africa’s leading youth culture festivals and a monument to the legacy of its founder, the late Riky Rick, has been officially and permanently cancelled and disbanded.
Disputes Cited as Reason for Closure
Organizers announced the closure, citing internal differences and disputes among current shareholders as the primary reason for the decision. The festival team, including founder Bianca Naidoo and the Makhado family, stated that the continuation of the event under the current circumstances would not uphold the vision and standards set by Riky Rick.
The decision was made “with a very heavy heart” after months of deliberation, according to a statement released by the organizers.
Riky Rick’s Legacy
Since its inception in 2019, Cotton Fest grew over seven years to become a powerful cultural movement, celebrated for uniting music, fashion, and art. The festival was widely seen as a key part of preserving Riky Rick’s legacy.
The organizers expressed deep gratitude to the fans, whom they described as the “heartbeat” of the festival and the driving force behind its cultural impact.
- Refund Information: Ticket holders for the now-cancelled upcoming edition can obtain full refunds through Webtickets.
The announcement concluded with the festival’s famous, defiant motto: “We never die. We multiply.”
