Louise Bennett-Coverley, a cultural icon, was born on September 7, 1919, in Kingston. Miss Lou as she is affectionately called remains a household name in Jamaica.
She was described as Jamaica’s leading comedienne, as the “only poet who has really hit the truth about her society through its own language”. She was a Jamaican poet and activist.
Through her poems in Jamaican patois, she raised the dialect of the Jamaican folk to an art level which is acceptable to and appreciated by all in Jamaica. To commemorate our beloved Miss Lou, here are some of her dub-Poetry. She died on July 26, 2006. R.I.P Miss Lou
Musical: LONG TIME GAL
Miss Lou was successful in capturing “all the spontaneity of the expression of Jamaicans’ joys and sorrows, their poignant and even wicked wit, their religion and their philosophy of life.”
Caribbean Rhythm
She received her education from Ebenezer and Calabar Elementary Schools, St. Simon’s College, Excelsior College, Friends College (Highgate).
Jamaica Language
Dr. Louise Bennett Coverley, through many years of research, has provided Jamaica with a vast reference collection of “valid documents reflecting the way Jamaicans think and feel and live”. The proud recipient of two Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Letters, one from the University of the West Indies in 1983 and the other from York University of Toronto Canada in 1998 — is testimony in itself and an achievement which speaks volumes of the high recognition of one of our true Caribbean Gems.
Buggy Bruck, Street Cries, Balanci, Colonizing In Reverse, Jamaicans Coming
Although she lived in Toronto, Canada for the last decade she still receives the homage of the expatriate West Indian community in the north as well as a large Canadian following.
