Nkateko “Takkies” Dinwiddy choreographs the #honeyafricadance for DStv’s HONEY channel

Choreographer, influencer and YouTuber, Nkateko “Takkies” Dinwiddy has been in the professional dance space for well over a decade. The South African artist was commissioned by DStv’s HONEY channel (173) to choreograph a fresh dance in line with the channel’s commitment to showcasing Pan-African lifestyles. Takkies was enthusiastic about taking on the project as much of her work has to do with empowerment and expression. We sat down with her to discuss the creation of the #honeyafricadance.

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What was the creative process around coming up with the #honeyafricadance?

I was happy when the HONEY team first got in touch as what really stood out were the content pillars of the channel. This lifestyle channel celebrates love, food, fashion and everyday people, all things that I appreciate. So the creative process of coming up with a dance to celebrate their launch made sense to me as I could relate to their programming. My goal was to create some moves that both represented the channel and would bring people together.

What would you say is the most important thing about being African in 2021?

There is so much power to being African in 2021 as this is a growing continent that continues to rise. Personally it's important to celebrate all of our cultures and stories, as well as how different and diverse we are. Having platforms for representation is also important. As a mom of two I want my girls to confidently love being African no matter where we are in the world.

What do you love most about HONEY?

There are two aspects that I love. One is that it represents amazing women from all over the continent. And two, that its content and programming are made in Africa by Africans for Africans.

What is your favourite show on HONEY?

There are so many entertaining shows I've been watching that it’s really hard to just choose one. At the moment I must say I’m really enjoying the conversations on The Buzz because they touch on so many interesting and diverse lifestyle topics.

What do you think makes dance so impactful on the continent?

I always think dance is in our blood, in our culture and is such an expression of our culture and heritage. I also love that it brings people together; no matter who you are or where you are from or what your life involves, dance is a unifying force. Whether it's a room full of people, or in an online challenge, dancing brings unity and joy.

Everyone knows you for your choreographic work. What do the next few years look like for Takkies?

The next few years are looking really good. I've been based out of London since the end of 2019 to take my work to a fresh audience, and despite having a baby and the pandemic hitting in 2020, I have been making good progress particularly with content creation and influencer work. And as the lockdown in the UK lifts, I'll set up my Rockingnheels dance fitness classes. I'm expecting an exciting few years.

Follow Takkies and HONEY TV to find out more about the #honeyafricadance.

HONEY (DStv channel 173) is available on DStv Premium, Compact Plus and Compact. To upgrade your package or to get DStv, click here.