Culture

Mrs. Louise Bennett Coverley, popularly known as Miss Lou, is dubbed Jamaica's First Lady of Comedy. She was born on September 7, 1919 and lived a full life then died on July 26, 2006. 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", and as an important contributor to her country of "valid social documents reflecting the way Jamaicans think and feel and live.”

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 and out of Jamaica.

In her poems she was able to capture all the spontaneity of the expression of Jamaicans' joys and sorrows, their ready, poignant and even wicked wit, their religion and their philosophy of life. 

On Jamaica’s independence day 2001, Louise Bennett-Coverley was appointed as a Member of the Order of Merit for her distinguished contribution to the development of the Arts and Culture. Louise Bennett Coverley's passion for comedy, art, and education lead her to the world spreading the Jamaican culture and dialect.