Miss Lou, Louise Bennett-Coverley

Not even lickle language

Bwoy?

Not even lickle twang?”

- Noh Lickle Twang

Miss Lou, the Queen of Jamaican Theatre, the Mother of Jamaican culture, and surely a whole list of other names. Louise Simone Bennet-Coverley is a coveted poet, storyteller, folklorist, cultural activist, and overall, a monumental figure in Jamaican history and culture.

Miss Lou was born in the heart of Kingston, Jamaica on September 7, 1919. She grew up an only child living with her mother and grandmother. Simultaneously, there was an era of protest amongst the Jamaican people, a struggle for independence. During her foundational years, Jamaican began to challenge the British rule which had governed the country for the last 300 years. Growing up amongst other trailblazers no doubt influenced the person Louise grew to be.

After graduating from high school, Miss Lou attended a few postgraduate institutions, even receiving a scholarship from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. She was also the first Black student to attend the school. Her career as a student helped foster an interest in literature, folklore, drama, and the Jamaican dialect, which she would put to good use.

As a result of her exposure to English literature, Louise began to question why Jamaican authors were not writing in their own dialect. Miss Lou held a deep appreciation for Jamaican Patois and saw the necessity for Jamaican’s to be able to express themselves through language unique to them. Upon falling in love with poetry she began writing and later performing her work composed in the Patois dialect. Through this work, she challenged the misconception that Patois was improper and ironed out a space for the dialect in the art world.

Miss Lou employs both Patois and the rich folklorist tradition to create a distinctly Jamaican style and encourages others to do the same. Her hard work paid off and she received plenty awards and recognition throughout her career. She was even invited to Jamaica’s Celebration of Emancipation and Independence in 2003 as a special guest. Miss Lou is remembered as a significant figure in theatre, literary arts, and cultural activism. You can check out some of her songs, as well as a link to a few of her poems.

Louise Bennett CoverleyBest Poems Encyclopediahttps://www.best-poems.net › poems