Her work unites the study of audio-visual media with frameworks from cultural theory and post-/neo-colonial studies; with inquiry into identity, youth culture, and gender studies; and the role of expressive culture in social/political activism. She is also a composer and pianist who holds a B.M. in film scoring from the Berklee College of Music, an A.M. from Harvard University in Ethnomusicology, and a Ph.D. from Harvard University in African Studies. While living carrying out research in the Eastern Congo, Ndaliko has served as co-director of the Yole!Africa cultural center.