Most of us never think about the people behind the scenes that put in work to bring artists’ vision to reality: producers, audio engineers, vocalists, glam squad...the list goes on and on. But in front for the world to see, are the fearless performers that transform songs to reality.
Edidiong “Diddi” Emah is one of them. A Dancer. Choreographer. Musician.
Some of the artists that she has performed alongside or choreographed for include Missy Elliott, Ciara, Ludacris, Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Jason Derulo, Tinashe, Fifth Harmony, Future, Davido and "Big Trouble" from the FOX TV series, Star.
Edidiong's personality is energetic and filled with passion – both synonymous with her style of dance and choreography within the Afrobeat, R&B/Pop and Hip-Hop realm.
At the age of 2, Edidiong and her mom (momma Udoh) immigrated to America from Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. Her mother’s side of the family is Akwa Ibom, and her father’s side is half-Cameroon, half-Calabar.
She arrived speaking Ibibio and French. The latter quickly dwindled, but Ibibio remained her mother tongue, which she began to mix with English, and formed her own unique way of communicating. “Although at home it was cute, it was hard once I started school. I tried my hardest to adapt, to sound like “Americans”…It was a real task for me…Our Ibibio language is kind of quick, so I tried to speak English fast and started to develop a stuttering problem because I would get confused with the words…so I have learned to slow down.”
Not only could Edidiong barely speak English in elementary school, but her physical appearance also seemed to be an outlier. “…I was always wearing braids. And occasionally my mom would put me in African outfits to go to school…I’m this young little light skin girl with thick, long hair. Kids they just had their time with me, until I started wooping them. That’s just how it was. [laughter]”
“So that was always something. I wanted to blend in so that I could fight less…”
As suspensions entered the picture, Edidiong’s mark as an only child and a victim of bullying became her mother’s heartache. Momma Udoh struggled with finding the right school to enroll her daughter into, and eventually settled for a school that required uniforms. The hope was that it would mirror her own personal memories of boarding school in Nigeria.
Edidiong was a very intelligent kid that excelled in science and math. So by middle school, she was in a gifted program. Smaller classroom sizes, and being surrounded by other likeminded kids, allowed Edidiong to circumvent the bullies.
• As a teen, Edidiong didn’t realize it was ok to tell people she was Nigerian off the break. But when it was time to freestyle dance, that’s when it came out naturally. •
From the advice of teachers, momma Udoh knew that Edidiong would benefit from a magnet high school – DeKalb School of the Arts (DSA)* was their top choice. “It just so happened to be a performing arts school, but she cared about the education portion. She didn’t think for 2 seconds that I was going to be like: [in a Nigerian accent] “Hey! I want to dance.” [laughter]”
Luckily, Edidiong wasn’t a total newcomer to performing. She was in her mother's African dance troupe (Ima Cultural Dance Troupe) since the age of 3; and at 11, her mom even supported her modeling gigs in New York. In addition, “I did baton twirling with Georgia's Youth On Parade and won a lot of championships and college bonds from doing that in elementary/middle school.” She also came from a talented family. Many chose to pursue a career in medicine, but they were also great dancers, vocalists and actors. Edidiong was the first to truly pursue her talent.
Based on Edidiong’s childhood, it may seem as though momma Udoh was a progressive immigrant. But “She was opened because she thought it was just 'cute.' I was still supposed to be a doctor…”
Edidiong tested into DSA, auditioned for drama and dance, and made the cut to be amongst a small group of 50 talented students that comprised her 8th through 12th grade class. DSA played a large role in introducing her to ballet, modern, jazz and other styles of dance. At just 15 years old (10th grade), Edidiong was scouted and signed to her current dance agents Sindy Schneider and Nefertiti Robinson of 411 South. But since she was unable to secure many dance jobs due to her age, she became a choreographer.
As a teen, Edidiong didn’t realize it was ok to tell people she was Nigerian off the break. But when it was time to freestyle dance, that’s when it came out naturally. From her impressive moves, people started requesting “the African girl,” and opened a path for 16-year-old Edidiong to start giving private lessons to her first major artists, Ciara and Keri Hilson.
By the time she hit 18, she reexamined life and starting thinking, "Maybe I can do this." As a result of positivity, her dance career became more promising for years to come. Not only did Edidiong start working higher paying gigs, but she was personally being requested to perform alongside and to choreograph for many popular artists in the industry.
• “They put so much pressure on me to change my major. I knew that I just had to do it and figure it out.” •
- Edidiong's college plan vs. family pressure
Her academic performance at DSA afforded her academic scholarships and grants to Georgia State University. “I knew I wanted to go to Georgia State because I could control my schedule. I could have all my classes in the morning and then by noon I’d be done…I was up at 7 in the morning in class and done by noon or 1. Then I would go and work at Akon’s [yes, the rapper!] facility and do choreography for artists until 11pm. Afterwards, homework.”
Her personal plan was to finish an accounting degree within 3 years in order to start life as quickly as possible. So by her sophomore year, Edidiong was doing credit hour overrides and cramming 4 classes (instead of the recommended 1) during summer school. And add to the mix, touring on the weekends with singer, songwriter and producer Sean Garrett. “When everyone was sleeping on the flights, I was doing my homework because I had class on Monday. Or when we finished a show and everyone would go to the club, I’m in my hotel room making sure I didn’t fail my summer school classes.” Her ambition garnered her A’s in all 4 summer classes.
But junior year, her original plan was derailed. “I packed my schedule with courses that I could work with and still pursue dance at night…Then my family said ‘No. You have to do biology.' They put so much pressure on me to change my major. I knew that I just had to do it and figure it out…I was able to change out some of my classes for science courses. They kicked my butt!”
As a result of a major not of her choosing, Edidiong now had too much on her plate. Her grades started to slump and so did her dance career because she was unable to accept tour gigs. She eventually lost her scholarships.
In 2010, 1-year shy of graduating, Edidiong made a bold decision to quit school and pursue her passion full-time. “I got an offer to come and tour with the Black Eyed Peas and Ludacris. And I told myself: I’m out! I think I’m just going to do it.” Edidiong was 20 years old.
“My family disowned me at that point…my mom was crying all the time and my grandparents were mad.” But regardless of her family’s anger, Edidiong found eternal strength and kept going. “Throughout all the stuff that I went through with my family, all I had was God. For a second, I asked myself: ‘Am I being punished for something. Is that why I’m having such a hard time?’ And then I realized, He was all I had.”
She joined her first on-the-road tour, 34 cities in 2 months. Not only was she dancing on tour, but she also did TV and live performances for Ludacris’ then-new single, “How Low Can You Go,” and spirit, Conjure Cognac. Edidiong made $15k within her first month of taking a leap of faith.
• “It’s a way to get people, who usually wouldn’t gravitate towards my culture, to fall in love with everything African.” •
- Edidiong on the purpose behind her alternative fitness class, Afro-fit
As Edidiong’s success as a dancer, performer, and choreographer rose, she was ready for something new – music.
“It’s hard to establish something when you’re always moving, so I needed to be still and get music off the ground.” She connected with super producer "Mr. Hanky," producers/engineers, Jonathan “Midus” Hernandez and Chinedu “Chinchilla” Nwabukwu, and have been working with them ever since. So from 2012 to 2014, Edidiong quit dance altogether to pursue music and work corporate full-time. “But it ended up with me just working corporate and being in a really messed up relationship that held me back. Once I got out of that, I left Atlanta…”
When her life seemed to be going in a downward spiral, she reconnected with a long-time friend, JaQuel Knight, who direct booked her to go on tour with Nicole Scherzinger, the lead singer from the popular girl group, The Pussy Cat Dolls. Off to Los Angeles Edidiong went.
When she arrived in LA, momma Udoh noticed her daughter’s persistence and willingness to go to different extremes just to make it; so she finally came around. “…She said, ‘I don’t care if I have to take money out of my 401k, we’re going to figure this out.’ That’s where we are now. She’s finally on board after all these years…I had been through so many low points…all I could do was hit the floor crying.”
In November 2016, Edidiong moved back to Atlanta. “I’m dancing, doing choreography, and working on my music. I’m doing all of it together. I just have a better plan this time around.”
She’s developing her brand Ima Afrique. In Calabar/Akwa Ibom dialect of Efik/Ibibio, Ima means Love. And in French, which Cameroonians speak, Afrique means Africa. Under this umbrella, Edidiong launched Afro-fit in February 2017 – an Afrobeat dancing and fitness training course designed to burn calories, while mastering traditional African movements. “It’s a way to get people, who usually wouldn’t gravitate towards my culture, to fall in love with everything African.”
Edidiong’s also the co-choreographer with her long-time friend and fellow celebrity dance choreographer Sean Bankhead, for the FOX TV series, Star. In addition to doing U.S.-based work, she is beginning to gain ground back at ‘home.’ She has already choreographed music videos for Nigerian recording artist, Davido, and has her eyes set on many other African talents.
“I’m not done yet, I have a lot of ideas and plans for this life.” Edidiong, we’re rooting for you!
Her most memorable artists she’s worked with:
Ludacris (2010): “That tour was amazing!...We had so many shows that we had to jet from one place to another. That was my first experience on a private jet and private helicopter ride. I was like, ‘OMG, this is my life.’ The whole team was respectful and nobody ever hit on me. I felt like a queen. To add, great money, many gifts and he paid us early. I didn’t have to struggle.”
Nicole Scherzinger (2014): “I love her so much. She’s very sweet and humble. [During the tour] she took us to the Philippines and India…We were all going through things. We talked and learned so much from each other, and decided to look at things differently from that point on. I learned about meditation and manifestation in India – once you speak, if you believe in it with all your heart, it would come to pass. It was so magical.”
Missy Elliott (2017): 10 years after working with Ciara featuring Missy, on the "Work" video, Edidiong was a dancer on Missy’s “I’m Better ft. Lamb” video. “Missy, that lady prays! She’s uplifting. She’s been to my house several times. I’m like, ‘you want to come to my house???’ [laughter]”
Her advice to anyone wishing to enter this entertainment profession:
“You can work, work, work, and charge for all these privates, live shows, and music videos, and be 4 months in the hole. It’s tough. Don’t do it because you think it’s glamorous…you have to have a hustle. You have to have multiple streams of income coming in, and try to align them with your ultimate goal.”
Her advice to someone who may be struggling with his or her cultural identity:
“Know that you were chosen to be from where you are…It’s not a punishment to be African. It’s not a punishment to be from wherever you’re from. You’re beautiful, amazing, and meant to be where you are. Balance your culture with where you are.”
• • •
*DeKalb School of the Arts is a public performing arts magnet school, which requires high standards in arts and academics. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA; if not, they are booted and replaced with a waitlisted student. Notable alumni include: Donald Glover (a.k.a. Childish Gambino, a rapper and actor), Celise Hicks (dance captain for The Lion King on Broadway), Omar Dorsey (actor Ray Donovan on OWN’s Queen Sugar), Lloyd (R&B singer), and many more.
- Images courtesy of Edidiong Emah.
- Check out Edidiong's highlight choreography reel HERE.
- For the latest information on Ima Afrique, including Afro-fit class dates, follow @iam_edidiong.