Chipo Kandake: Healing Through Dance And Cultural Traditions

When Chipo Kandake of Louisiana connects with Black femmes across the Afro-diaspora, she creates healing spaces through the preservation of cultural traditions and the binding power of dance movement. 

Chipo is a performance artist, educator, filmmaker and ethnographer who pioneers grassroots initiatives in New Orleans and beyond. She takes pride in her griot spirit, allowing her energetic passions to unify and heal generations and empower individuals through embodied storytelling. As the Texas-grown dancer travels around the world, she cultivates the gift of spiritual energy as it relates to dancing in tune with the human body. 

In April, Chipo posted a vibrant video of herself dancing with a group of melanated Afro-Colombian women of all divine shades and ages. She was invited to join this group who utilize drums, songs and dance to carry their traditions of the Pacific Coast. The clip first places her in the center of a bigger group of ladies. Alongside the resounding voices of drums, Chipo demonstrates gradual hip circles with raised arms while providing a space for everyone to freely move.

“I am grateful to have the freedom to travel and experience connections [like] this. It’s a privilege and these moments are priceless. I truly love what I do. I Love us,” the Louisiana-based visionary penned in the caption of the video.

In Spanish, she added, “Gracias a Nyasha y Doña Elana por invitarme,” which translates to “Thank you Nyasha and Mrs. Elana for inviting me.”

At one point, an Afro-Colombian woman with a bright yellow head wrap rushes into the middle of all the women and ambitiously sticks a young girl beside Chipo. The elder accomplishes her goal and then points out another young girl on the other side of the special guest. Chipo understands the assignment and continues showcasing slow and fast moves as the young girls and women follow.

The video ends with Chipo and the femmes of the Afro-diaspora joining in celebration. 

Chipo’s Instagram followers cheer her on, supporting her efforts to share her beautiful spiritual energy and connect communities throughout the Afro-diaspora.

“This is so beautiful! Love witnessing you take your magic into places and spaces of indigenous beings and make them feel safe, seen, heard, and celebrated. This is black love,” a supportive comment praised.

 Another cheery comment chimed in saying, “So healing for women to do this together instead of our movements just being sexualized. You’re awesome.”

“Super magical to help connect you all!! Las mujeres unidas had a time that afternoon,” a third commenter wrote.

Chipo’s passion for dance, film and music began as a child.

The Dillard University graduate calls Louisiana home. During her time in the Pelican State, Chipo studied the dance landscape in New Orleans, the Dominican Republic and Cuba and its connection to culture, community and spiritual energy. She was recently reintroduced as Queen Chipo Washitaw Nation, who will grace audiences at the upcoming 2025 Mardis Gras, highlighting her maternal lineage in Monroe, Louisiana, the home of the Washitaw Indians. 

“I grew up on Zydeco music and came into bounce and second-line later in my life,” the artist told the #IAmEnough blog. “It’s the the backdrop music to my life so it’s always on my mind. Naturally, when I travel or read about another place, I make comparisons when something rings a bell in my brain. And when it came to dance, that bell has been ringing off the hook.”

She currently hosts private online and in-person classes and serves as the director of Media & Content of Material Life, a pop-up retail boutique at the Contemporary of Arts Center in New Orleans.