‘End of an Era’: South Africans Heartbroken as Riky Rick’s CottonFest Officially Comes to an End

CottonFest Officially Shut Down as Shareholder Disputes End Riky Rick’s Legacy Event

South Africans have been left heartbroken after organisers confirmed that CottonFest, the youth culture and music festival founded by the late rapper Riky Rick, has officially come to an end.

The announcement was made on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, marking the closure of a festival many regarded as one of the country’s most important creative movements.

Also Read: Its On: Here Is The List Of Rappers To Perform At Cotton Fest

Bianca Naidoo Confirms Festival Closure

In a statement released by Riky Rick’s partner, Bianca Naidoo, the CottonFest team revealed that they could no longer continue operating the event due to ongoing disputes among its current shareholders.

The festival, launched in 2019, was created to unite music, fashion, art and diverse youth cultures under one platform — a vision strongly associated with Riky Rick’s legacy.

Naidoo said the decision came after “months of deliberation” and was made with a “heavy heart,” acknowledging the emotional impact the news would have on the festival’s supporters.

Internal Disagreements Lead to Shutdown

According to the statement, shareholder tensions had become increasingly difficult to resolve, ultimately making it impossible to run CottonFest in a way that honoured the standard and spirit established by its founder.

The team emphasised that continuing under such conditions would compromise the integrity of the movement Riky Rick built from the ground up.

Here is the full statement:

“COTTONFEST CONCLUDES…THE END OF AN ERA

Since 2019 YOU have all been instrumental in the success of the Festival but more so, in keeping the movement and Riky’s legacy alive. After months of deliberation, it is with a very heavy heart that we share the news that it is the end of an era for the Festival. Sadly differences among the current shareholders have led to disputes between them, that make it increasingly challenging to continue the festival in a manner that upholds the standards and vision set out by its sole founder, Riky Rick.

The CottonFest team would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you, for being part of the movement and for helping to build our incredible community. Thank you for walking this journey with us.

With Love Bianca and The CottonFest Team

WE NEVER DIE. WE MULTIPLY, ” reads the statement

Refunds and Community Appreciation

Organisers confirmed that ticket holders can request refunds through Webtickets, and thanked fans, partners and artists for sustaining the festival over the past six years.

Public Reaction: End of an Era

Soon after the announcement, social media platforms were flooded with emotional reactions from fans and artists alike.

Many described the closure as the end of an era, expressing sadness that a movement that celebrated youth culture and creativity was coming to an abrupt halt.

Here are some of the comments:

@yungboyallalone;

They cancelled CottonFest

@gxgs__;

We will bring it back. They can’t take such history from us ah Riky
#cottonfest

@louiehndrx;

Damn, no more CottonFest

@mattepinkrari;

I guess cottonfest 2025 was really the end of an era hey… it’s wild watching something you grew up with slowly conclude Riky wasn’t just an artist he was a culture architect he built a community,not a festival

@__french__fry;

Very sad! Not all too shocking though. The BTS chats that some artists were having about being blackballed from the CF lineups was sad to hear. Also, the end of CottonFest is another striking reminder that Riky is gone forever. The artists will feel the impact of this move hard..