Formed shortly after the July 1981 Liverpool riots, Delado was a traditional African drum and dance group based in Toxteth, Liverpool, where most of the group members were born. The ensemble came together after attending workshops run by the African Caribbean group, Steel ‘n’ Skin. The initiative for the workshops came from discussions held between a group of young Rastas and Steel’n’Skin. Rastas feeling the need for some form of self-expression had set up a local grass roots arts group and were in the process of putting together and publishing a magazine which reflected the Rastafari way of life and aspirations, and contained articles on African culture and history. Members of Steel ‘n’ Skin met with the group and offered support in the form of workshops in drumming and dance with a view to eventually establishing a traditional Africa drum and dance group in Merseyside, run by local people. Steel ‘n’ Skin were well versed in such work having already set up drum and dance group Lanzel in Wolverhampton, as well as Ekome in Bristol. As a result of these meetings, Steel ‘n ’Skin approached the then Merseyside Arts, and other statutory and voluntary bodies for support in getting the project of the ground. The Rastas for their part, held meetings with young people in the community to discuss the plans made between themselves and Steel ‘n’ Skin and a local community centre was found to hold the workshops.

When the workshops were launched the response from the young people in the area was good - even at this early stage various young people from the group were already taking on positions of responsibility for the formation of a permanent group. In some instances they were actually running workshops in the absence of Steel ‘n’ Skin. For some people in the group this was their first chance of taking any kind of responsibility.
As a result of the positive response and development made during the workshopping process, assessments for a more prolonged scheme were taken into consideration by the participants. This was undertaken in the form of a feasibility study sponsored by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC), who later supported the scheme. Delado had by this time organised itself in a formative voluntary organisation and gained charitable status. This enabled Delado to take African drum and dance and related crafts into youth clubs, schools and community centres, as well as more conventional venues.

Delado successfully sponsored and ran the scheme for three years, revising the project to fit new guidelines which were presented each year by the MSC. At the beginning of 1985 Delado decided not to sponsor another MSC scheme as the guidelines issued by the MSC restricted the company to a point it was felt it could not carry out its work properly and the 12 month temporary employment schemes funded by the MSC were no longer conclusive to the group’s needs, aims and objectives. Due to the lack of a sound economic base to secure a solid foundation and future for their chosen work, members of the group had to supplement their income from part-time work and look elsewhere for means of making a living which led to a number of members being lost.

From 1981 Delado grew from a community dance group to a successful professional touring company that toured their work throughout Britain and Europe. The company continued to survive on funds made from workshops and performances. In 1987 Merseyside Arts awarded funding to Delado, and the company were given a massive task with no support and unfortunately the grant received from Merseyside Arts was discontinued in 1988 resulting in the folding of company. Some of the Delado’s members left Merseyside and others remained and became freelance artists who formed smaller groups and continued to take workshops into schools and communities across the region. It is now 30 years since Delado formed and when you talk to people who remember them you can feel that the company brought pride it to the Toxteth community. Generations are still saddened by the loss of the company. Many people still remember the dances they saw and some can even raise the call and response songs that they learnt when they attended Delado’s performances and workshops. Delado accomplished much during the 7 years of its existence. Key Delado achievements include:

• took traditional African drumming and dance into areas where it would not normally be seen. Delado was the first contact that many communities had with black people, giving the group the opportunity to present a positive image and break stereotyped images of African culture. This work broke cultural barriers in areas that were seen as racist and unwelcoming;