Nikkie, 'spicing things up'

She is one of the few female artists making a name for herself and establishing inroads into a largely male-dominated industry. Chances are, you have already heard one of her many songs blurring on the radio but just weren't sure who this young lady is or where she is from. She has quite a number of hits under her belt and has worked with internationally recognized produçers, the likes of Jusa Demento and Abra Simz. Today we put a face and name to the South African based dancehall/hiphop artist.


Full name?
Prudence Nikiwe Dandah

What is your stage name and the inspiration behind it?
My stage name is Nikkie Spice. I got that name from my classmates.they said I sounded more like Jamaican dancehall heavyweight, Spice and 'nikkie' is short for Nikiwe (which is my real name)

How old are you?
23years

Where are you based?
Im based in Johannesburg fourways

What type of genre do you sing and what made you choose this one in particular?
I do dancehall, 'concious reggae' and hip-hop. I did not choose but it just something that happened because I believe that if you are an artist you should be versatile.

How and when did all this start?
My music journey started in 2011 I used to be a backing vocalist for Senator vybz then Gee brrndon suggested that I try recording something so I did and thats when it all started.

Where did you derive inspiration from?
Used to listen to Lady Squander because 'ndovaipisa' those days. Internationally, I listened to Alaine and Spice

What made you decide upon a career in music?
I became an artist because I love entertaining people. I am not much of a talker so I express how I feel through my music

Most memorable moments?
The fist time I had a collabo with a big artist would probably rank high among my most memorable monents, it was with the legendary King labash and of course, no artist can forget hearing their song on the radio for the first time

Current projects?
lm working on an album which will be released next year in march. Plus a lot of mixtapes lined up as well so trust me when I tell you that it will be 'madd'!

Can you list for us some of the people you have worked with so far in your career?
I have worked with Kutso he recorded the Tikatadzirana hit song and the people fell in love with it so much over here.
Then there is Cure Massive, he recorded a lot of my songs, the likes of Wandidhomotsa, Ndikakusuwa, Handidi, Baad gyal. I also worked with Tman (Mount Zion Records) on Mapoto mashanu, Purple skunks, Jusa Demento and Abra Simz, Nhubu Digital, Asan and Jah Fish, just to mention a few.

What is it that separates Nikkie Spice from the rest of the other artists?
I dont sing for the fame and neither do i sing to get paid I do it all simply because I love being in front of people, seing them smile makes me happy. To me its not about the money and I believe that is what makes me different.

If you had the chance to work with any famous names, who would they be?
Internationally if I did get the chance to work with anyone it would be with Spice, she is just amazing and if I were to work with any producer, it would be Good good production (forgot his name though but his beats are different, just like me)

How has been the music industry been to you thus far?
I told myself that I would be better than how I started and day by day it gets better. I cannot predict the future but but I would like to think that I am doing good!

Can you share with us a few of your goals?
I see myself owning my own production company and naming it Spice production. Uplifting other 'yuts' who started the way I did is definitely high on my 'to-do-list'. I just want people to relate to the kind of words I put together and yes, I would like to go far and be like Alaine and Spice.

What motivates you?
I push my music accordingly, I have learnt how to hype my own self
My boyfriend too, he deserves special mention because he is always there when I need him, he pushes my music and supports it in any way that he can, his name is Shrine Kamusoko.