History in Motion: African Dance as Living Tradition
Returning to Our Roots: Honoring Living History Through Dance
In honor of Black History Month, this episode is a celebration of African culture as a living, breathing tradition — carried through movement, storytelling, music, and community. I was honored to welcome three extraordinary women from the internationally respected Delou Africa Dance Company, headquartered right here in Miami.
Joining me were Njeri (Najari) Plato, founder and president of Delou Africa; Renee Allong Delou, folkloric storyteller; and Asha Dorsey, dancer and brand ambassador.
š„ Watch the full episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/MampJz-q_0M?si=mjK-ogoMsKX4CJ9F
š§ Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5XWCQLgoydB1y5QFqVdsFb?si=wlwTaOoMQ0K3AbX4p-cXbQ
A Vision Born of Necessity
Delou Africa was founded in 1987 out of what Njeri describes as a necessity — a cultural void that needed to be filled. After traveling to Senegal in the mid-1980s, she was encouraged by a local woman to bring traditional West African dance back to Miami and to name the company Delou Africa — a Wolof word meaning “return” or “back to.”
That idea of return — physically, spiritually, and culturally — became the foundation of Delou Africa’s mission. As Njeri explained, you must know where you come from in order to move forward.
Storytelling, Memory, and the African Diaspora
Renee shared how her journey into African dance and storytelling began long before Delou Africa, starting in New York and continuing through Washington, DC, and eventually Florida. While she no longer dances as frequently, storytelling has become her way of preserving history and honoring ancestors.
In African tradition, dance itself is storytelling. Movements communicate rites of passage, initiation, community values, and lived experience. In today’s world, where explanations are often needed, Delou Africa helps bridge that gap — preserving meaning while making tradition accessible and relevant.
Movement as Healing and Release
Asha Dorsey shared her personal journey into Delou Africa after relocating to Miami in 2016. A Spelman College alumna with extensive training in ballet, modern, and jazz, she found that traditional West African dance was what truly sustained her — emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
Searching for an outlet during a stressful transition, she found Delou Africa through a simple Google search. What began as a few classes became a long-term commitment. Today, she speaks passionately about how African dance offers grounding, release, and connection — reminding us that culture lives in the body.
Experiencing the Dance Firsthand
I recently had the opportunity to take a Delou Africa class myself, and it was unlike anything I’d experienced before. Live drumming. Intentional movement. History embedded in rhythm. The dance we learned — tied to rites of passage — came with context, purpose, and reverence.
What stood out most was the sense of respect: for the dance, for the drummers, for the ancestors, and for one another. The class closed in a community circle — a space for reflection, gratitude, and shared presence. African dance is not simply something you do; it is something you experience.
A Living, Sacred Space
Delou Africa is more than a dance company. It is a refuge. A sacred space. A place where people return — sometimes after decades — because the work continues to matter. Children, elders, families, and newcomers are welcomed. The philosophy is simple: if you can walk, you can dance.
As Njeri shared, Delou Africa remains committed to preservation, access, and community — even in challenging times. Culture, after all, is not optional. It is essential.
Honoring Legacy
I would like to dedicate this episode in loving memory of my aunt, Brenda Joyce Rayborn, who passed last month. She was an educator for 43 years in the South Bend school system and a pillar of our family. Her legacy of learning, leadership, and service lives on.
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