Dikeni was born in the small Karoo town of Victoria West and studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand and University of the Western Cape, where he was a member of the SRC and obtained a diploma in journalism through Peninsula Technikon.
He also published a collection of his articles from the Cape Times, Soul Fire: Writing the Transition (UKZN Press, 2002), and his essay 'How The West Was Lost' appeared in Chimurenga 07: Kaapstad!
[5] On 10 February 2005, he recorded in collaboration with German composer Klaus Hinrich Stahmer a collection of his poetry published by Wergo, accompanied by musicians Carin Levine (flutes);Jennifer Hymer (piano); Stephan Froleyks and Olaf Pyras (percussion); Omphalo-Quartett (African drums); Andreas König and Aki Hoffmann (piano).
[6] He was described by Cape Times editor Aneez Salie as "one of the finest poets and journalists our Struggle has produced".
[7] He survived a car accident in 2005 and recovering slowly after a coma, he continued to participate in events, such as the launch of Planting Water in 2007.