At A Glance: Miss Lou

Miss Lou
Louise Bennett was born in Kingston on September 7, 1919. She was the daughter of the late Augustus Cornelius Bennett and his wife Kerene. She was educated at Calabar Elementary School, Ebenezer Primary, St. Simon's College '36, Excelsior High School '38 and Friends College (Highgate). The young Louise always had an irrepressible sense of humour and a flair for dramatics. Her first dialect poem was written when she was fourteen years old. Here she is having a dance with former Premier Norman Manley at the St. Andrew Club in 1968.
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Miss Lou
When Louise Bennett began writing and reciting her dialect poems in the late 1930's and early 1940's she was regarded as an embarrassment. Speaking dialect was felt to be socially unacceptable and only the poor and illiterate spoke patois. She is shown here with her husband, Eric Coverley in the early 1950s.
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Miss Lou
The Daily Gleaner had previously refused to publish her poems but Michael deCordova asked her to submit poems for publication in the newspaper. A regular Sunday column evolved which proved to be a huge success.
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Miss Lou
Interestingly, Miss Lou was not the first choice to host the wildly popular children’s programme Ring Ding, which aired on the Jamaica Broad-casting Corporation (JBC) on Saturdays. Bari Johnson, the show's first producer, said actress Leonie Forbes was approached, but declined. He said she pointed to Miss Lou as the perfect person for the job. The show ran for 12 years, from 1968 until 1980.
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Miss Lou
Miss Lou appeared in her first Jamaican pantomime in 1943, playing opposite the late Ranny Williams. The two were to become a much-loved duo in Jamaican theatre.
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Miss Lou
Between 1945-46 she was attached to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). She hosted two radio programmes 'Caribbean Carnival' and 'West Indian Night.' Miss Lou was made a Member of the British Empire in 1961. Shown here is Governor General Sir Kenneth Blackburne.
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Miss Lou
In 1986, she appeared as Portia in the comedy film Club Paradise, starring Robin Williams, Jimmy Cliff and Peter O'Toole.
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Miss Lou
Miss Lou's writings have now been accepted as poetry with several publications to her credit. Jamaica Humour in Dialect was published in 1943; Anancy Stories and Dialect Verse in 1950. Jamaica Labrish whichwas released in 1966 was an instant best-seller and the book had its second impression in 1972. A copy of the book, "Jamaica Labrish' is presented to former Prime Minister, Sir Alexander Bustamante by the author in 1966.
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Miss Lou
In 1974 the Government of Jamaica honoured her with the insignia of Order of Jamaica. The Institute of Jamaica's Musgrave Silver and Gold Medals for distinguished eminence in the field of Arts and Culture.
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Miss Lou
Miss Lou, was many things to Jamaica: a folklorist, the first lady of comedy and our linguistic mother. Through her expressive poetry, engaging storytelling and natural good humour, Miss Lou conveyed the passion and vivacity of Jamaicans and their language. In the process, she engrained a sense of identity in a fledgling nation.
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