In an emotional and deeply moving episode of #WithChude, Halima Hassan, the mother of late Big Brother Naija contestant and singer Rico Swavey, opens up for the first time about the tragic loss of her son. Marking the second anniversary of Rico’s untimely death in a motor accident, Halima recounts the heart-wrenching moments leading up to his passing. She shares the painful memory of holding her son in her arms in a Lekki hospital, begging him to come back to her as his life slipped away. The devastating loss of her second child sent her into a spiral, leading to a battle with her mental health that forced her to seek help in a mental facility.
In this exclusive interview, Halima reveals how her son, who had a premonition of his own death, struggled to gain support for his music career. Despite his talent and promise, Rico found himself in competition with more established artists, with little backing from the industry he loved. “The older ones who were supposed to support the younger ones coming up were in competition with him instead,” she painfully recalls. Yet Rico remained hopeful, telling his mother, “Mama, don’t worry, very soon, everybody will hear my music.”
As Halima Hassan reflects on her journey of mental and emotional recovery, she also shares the poignant promise she made to Rico in his final moments.
Watch excerpt: https://www.instagram.com/p/DA5HGYztOSp/