Meet Njeri Plato | West African Folklore dance instructor, founder and executive director of Delou Africa.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Njeri Plato and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Njeri, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
As the founder of Delou Africa Dance Ensemble, which has been in existence since 1987, and continues to strive under the umbrella of it’s expansion as a non-profit 501 (c)(3) cultural arts community based organization, Delou Africa, Inc. has taught me determination, resiliency, accuracy, transparency, and being current. These are some of the attributes that has contributed to Delou’s success.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My name is Njeri Plato, born in Trinidad & Tobago, which is known as the twin island of the Caribbean. I migrated to Brooklyn, New York from Trinidad in 1971, and began taking West African dance classes in 1977. In 1981 I moved to Miami, Florida where I started teaching children and adults at various community and academic facilities.

I visited Senegal and Gambia in 1985 to further my studies in traditional West African folklore dance, music, and culture. I was awarded a certificate from the Institute for the study of African Culture for my participation in the Senegambia educational and culture exchange program.

Exposing the community to the unique and authentic art form of dance I was invited to travel once again to Senegal and The Gambia in 1987 with Florene Nichols, director of the Inner-City Children Touring Dance Company where I taught dance. We took students between the ages of 9-15 for one month to study. The children performed for the Ministry of Culture and the National Television of Senegal.

After returning from Senegal and The Gambia in 1987 I started Delou Africa Dance Ensemble (DADE). The meaning of DELOU is “Back or Return to”. Delou is from the Wolof language spoken in Senegal West Africa. I decided that one of my contributions would be to showcase, educate and preserve the rich traditions of Africa on an artistic level.

As founder and artistic Director, I performed, choreographed, designed costumes, and organized lecture engagements and performances at numerous venues. I’ve been instrumental in several theatrical productions such as: Seeds of the African Diaspora, “Sundiata” An Epic African Folktale, Wontanara” The Spirit of Dance, Drum & Music in Unity”, Footprints-Timeless Impressions of the African Diaspora and most recently Delou traveled to The Gambia in 2022 in honor and celebration of the late great Alex Haley 100th birthday. Our research was based on “Revealing Our Oral Traditions” R.O.O.T.”- in The Gambia.

Between the years of 1996-1998 I faced personal and physical challenges that forced me to go within for the healing I needed to continue my cultural artistic journey. After two years of healing, I volunteered and taught African Dance & Rhythms for a non-profit organization named Harambee Inc., an organization that empowers children to be all they can be through the arts and academic disciplines. Since 1998, I moved forward in my artistic endeavors and on November 28, 2000 I traveled to Guinea, West Africa with Harambee for one month to continue my studies in West African Folklore Dance, Music, and Culture.

In 2002 I secured residency for Delou Africa Dance Ensemble at Florida International University, Biscayne campus and in 2010 at City of Miami Little Haiti Cultural Complex where I along with Delou’s artistic team conducts ongoing community West African Folklore dance, drum, and music classes. My zeal to educate and preserve African culture through arts and education inspired me to create a not for profit 501 (c)(3) organization named Delou Africa, Inc. Our mission is to bridge gaps and preserve African heritage by facilitating programs for children, families, and adults.

In 2010 Delou Africa, Inc. launched its inaugural three-day annual cultural arts festival called the “African Diaspora Dance & Drum Festival of Florida”. (ADDDFF) In 2016 ADDDFF enhanced its brand and officially became the host to DanceAfrica, Miami in collaboration with the nationally acclaimed African festival network DanceAfrica that was founded by Dr. Charles “Baba Chuck” Davis in1977 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York.

I am excited and proud of Delou’s accomplishments. DADE is known for captivating audiences and is South Florida’s premier West Africa folklore performing arts company. DADE’s artist’s collective is comprised of talented drummers/musicians, dancers, and oral historians/storytellers whose purpose is to foster awareness, by connecting the timeless traditions of West Africa to the vast presence of the African Diaspora. Delou Africa, Inc.’s signature event is DanceAfrica Miami a three-day cultural arts destination festival that attracts local, national, and international attendees from all walks of life. Our cultural engagement includes dance, drum & music workshops, Yoga, a Better Living Health Fair and Symposium, Health Screening, a Global Bazaar, a free Children’s Village Zone, and a Concert that’s historically sold out! The concert is an artistic collaboration, featuring Delou Africa Dance Ensemble along with world renowned native and local dancers, drummers, musicians, and storytellers. Collectively they represent the African Diaspora primarily from the western region of Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States of America.

As executive Director I manage and oversee the welfare of Delou which has always been my position and priority from day one the only difference I am not as agile as I once was.

I am hopeful that the platform that I created over 35 years ago to teach, showcase, and preserve the rich traditions of West Africa through arts and education will continue to flourish through our future generations

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Food spots: Trinidadian Restaurants – *Singh’s Roti Delight* *Caribbean Delight* *Tabanka-A Trini Kitchen*

Jamaican Restaurants – *Coconutz Fusion Cafe* * Original Junie’s* *Taste Rite Bakery* *Donna’s Caribbean Restaurant*

Vegan- Crazy Vegan

Homemade Ice cream – Cleveland’s Old Fashion Ice Cream

Hatian Restaurants – *Chef Creole* *Berny’s Kitchen* *Macillon Grio Fish & Chicken

Art District -Wynwood in Miami

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
*My mother Lillian Plato (may she continue to watch over us) who kept my children so I can travel to Senegal and Gambia in the 80’s to pursue my passion in West African dance, music and culture and the beginning of my career. *Courtney Griffiths, my children’s father who funded my trips to Africa and Delou Africa Dance Ensemble (DADE) when it was established in 1987.
*Hazel Bryant, Mor Thiam, Awa, Ibrahima Dioubate, Baba Chuck Davis,, Petagay Letren, Florene Nichols
*Members of D.A.D.E. artistic team past and current: Doug Floyd, Daniel Diaz, Itiya Beckam, Chinester Rolle, Sherone Price, Tandea Carter, Matthew Hill, Narsha Cummings, Latrice Bruno, Chipo Afamefuna, Renee Allong, Tonia Riley, Christel Moore, Christ-Ann Magloire, Sheila and Winston Alexander, Anita and Toby Macbeth, Debbie “Jendayi” Marin, Zeva Soroker, Akosua Mudiwa Cumberbatch, Harold Mckinney, Derron Linyear, Shedia Nelson, Noelle Fleureau, Kenisha Adderley, Asha Dorsey, Grace Godoy, Nailah Herbert, Yinka Adefunmi, Yaatia and Kiah Asabea, Mamadouba Camara, Matthew Aubeuf, Amir Ferguson (my 8yr old grandson who plays djembe and dundun) , Kevwe Bomadi, Nicholas Spivey, Bilal Nash
*Miami Dade Department of Cultural Affairs, National Endowment for the Arts, Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, Miami Foundation, Knight Foundation, South Arts, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, staff and management team of the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, Florida Memorial University and Lou Rawls Center for the Performing Arts
*Fun Generation, Urgent, Inc. Yvette Harris of Harris Public Relations, Kimra Major-Morris of Major Morris Law, HistoryMiami, DanceAfrica, City of Miami Gardens
*My children who allowed me the freedom to be me. Folayan who is VP, dance instructor, choreographer, and artistic director of Delou, Jahthaniel, Kitwan, Nanyamka and Kwesi.
*Friends of Delou: Aboubacar “Amo” Soumah, Nko “Fallou” Small, Jose Ellisa, Mori keba Kouyate, Kaewn “Kricket” Saunders, Darnell RichardsonDjenaba Gregory-Faal, Takiyah Williams, Binta Bonair, Sharifa Crawford and countless others.

Website: www.delouafrica.org

Instagram: delouafrica

Facebook: delouafrica

Youtube: www.youtube.com/delouafrica

Image Credits
Innovative Arts Photography C.W. Griffin HistoryMiami Museum Delou Africa, Inc.