On This Day: The birth of Miss Lou

On September 7 1919, Jamaican poet, writer, and educator Louise Simone Bennet-Coverly, or Miss Lou, was born. Often described as “Jamaica’s most cherished national treasure,” she has received numerous honours and awards for her work in Jamaican literature and theatre from Jamaica to London and more, including an MBE.

Amongst many accomplishments, she was the first black student at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London after receiving a British Council scholarship in 1945. Working across Jamaica and the UK, Miss Lou had a very active career. She was the host of two radio shows on the BBC; Caribbean Carnival and West Indian Guest Night. She wrote several books and poems in Jamaican Patois, aided in its recognition as a national language, she taught speech and drama at a school, while finding the time to co-direct a folk musical with her husband titled Day in Jamaica.

After a long and illustrious career, Miss Lou died on July 26 2007 in Toronto, Canada. She is buried at National Heroes Park in Kingston Jamaica, where she was born. Explore some of her works, publications include:

(Jamaica) Dialect Verses 1942

Jamaican Humour in Dialect 1943

Selected Poems 1982

Laugh with Louise: a potpourri of Jamaican folklore 1991

Aunty Roachy Sey 1993
Jamaica Labrish 1996