Miss louise bennett biography of christopher

Louise Bennett-Coverley

Jamaican writer, folklorist and educator (–)

"Louise Bennett" redirects here. For the Irish suffragette and trade unionist, see Louie Bennett.

Louise Simone Bennett-Coverley or Miss LouOM, OJ, MBE (7 September – 26 July ), was a Jamaican poet, folklorist, writer, and educator.

Writing and performing her poems in Jamaican Patois or Creole, Bennett worked to preserve the practice of presenting poetry, folk songs and stories in patois ("nation language"),[2] establishing the validity of local languages for literary expression.[3]

Early life

Bennett was born on 7 September on North Street in Kingston, Jamaica.[4] She was the only child of Augustus Cornelius Bennett, the owner of a bakery in Spanish Town, and Kerene Robinson, a dressmaker.

After the death of her father in , Bennett was raised primarily by her mother. Bennett attended elementary school at Ebenezer and Calabar, continuing to St. Simon's College and Excelsior College, in Kingston. In , she enrolled at Friends College in Highgate, St Mary, where she studied Jamaican folklore. That same year, her poetry was first published in the Sunday Gleaner.[5] In , Bennett was the first black student to study at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), after being awarded a scholarship from the British Council.[6][7][8]

Career

On graduating from RADA, Bennett worked with repertory companies in Coventry, Huddersfield and Amersham, as well as in intimate revues across England.[9] During her time in the country, she hosted two radio programmes for the BBC: Caribbean Carnival (–) and West Indian Night ().[7]

Bennett worked for the Jamaica Social Welfare Commission from to , and taught folklore and drama at the University of the West Indies.[10] From to , she produced Miss Lou's Views, a series of radio monologues, and in started hosting the children's television programme Ring Ding.

Airing until , the show was based on Bennett's belief "that 'de pickney-dem learn de sinting dat belong to dem' (that the children learn about their heritage)".[11] As part of the programme, children from across the country were invited to share their artistic talents on-air. In addition to her television appearances, Bennett appeared in various motion pictures, which included Calypso () and Club Paradise ().[12]

Bennett wrote several books and poetry in Jamaican Patois, helping to have it recognized as a "nation language" in its own right.

Her work influenced many other writers – among them Mutabaruka, Linton Kwesi Johnson and Yasus Afari – to use it in a similar manner.[2][12] She also released numerous recordings of traditional Jamaican folk music and recordings from her radio and television shows, including Jamaican Folk Songs, Children's Jamaican Songs and Games, Miss Lou’s Views (), Listen to Louise (), Carifesta Ring Ding (), and The Honorable Miss Lou.

Louise bennett biography jamaica The only daughter of a baker and a dressmaker, she was the first black student at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in Britain. Her first dialect poem was written when she was fourteen years old. Retrieved 6 August Bennett wrote several books and poetry in Jamaican Patois, helping to have it recognized as a " nation language " in its own right.

She is credited with giving Harry Belafonte the foundation for his hit "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" by telling him about the Jamaican folk song "Hill and Gully Rider" (the name also given as "Day Dah Light").[13][14]

Personal life

Bennett was married to Eric Winston Coverley, an early performer and promoter of Jamaican theatre, from 30 May until his death in August [5][15] Together, Bennett and Coverley had a son, Fabian.[16][17]

Death and funeral

Bennett lived in Scarborough, Ontario.

She died on 27 July at the Scarborough Grace Hospital after collapsing at her home. A memorial service was held in Toronto on 3 August , after which her body was flown to Jamaica to lie in state at the National Arena on 7 and 8 August. A funeral was held in Kingston at the Coke Methodist Church at East Parade on 9 August followed by her interment in the cultural icons section of the country's National Heroes Park.

Bennett's husband predeceased her.[18][3]

Cultural significance and legacy

Dr. Basil Bryan, Consul General of Jamaica, praised Bennett as an inspiration to Jamaicans as she "proudly presented the Jamaican language and culture to a wider world and today we are the beneficiaries of that audacity."[19] She was acclaimed by many for her success in establishing the validity of local languages for literary expression.[3] An important aspect of her writing was its setting in public spaces such as trams, schools and churches allowing readers to see themselves, pre- and post-independence, reflected in her work.[20] Her writing has also been credited with providing a unique perspective on the everyday social experiences of working-class women in a postcolonial landscape.[21]

Bennett's rd birthday was marked with a Google Doodle on 7 September [22]

Archives

In , photographs, audiovisual recordings, correspondence, awards and other material regarding Bennett were donated to the McMaster University Library by her family with the intention of having selections from the fonds, which date from to , digitized and made available online as part of a digital archive[16] A selection of Bennett's personal papers are also available at the National Library of Jamaica.

Launched in October , the Miss Lou Archives contains previously unpublished archival material, including photos, audio recording, diaries and correspondence.[23] The holdings of the Miss Lou Archives were donated to the Library by Bennett as she prepared to take up residence in Canada.[17]

Awards and honours

Bennett received numerous honours and awards for her work in Jamaican literature and theatre.

In recognition of her achievements, Harbourfront Centre, a non-profit cultural organisation in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, has a venue named Miss Lou's Room.[24] The University of Toronto is home to the Louise Bennett Exchange Fellowship in Caribbean Literary Studies for students from the University of West Indies.[25][26] Her other awards and honours include:

Select publications

Books

  • Anancy Stories And Poems In Dialect.

    Kingston, Jamaica: The Gleaner Co. Ltd ().

  • Laugh with Louise: A pot-pourri of Jamaican folklore. Kingston: City Printery. OCLC&#;
  • Jamaica Labrish. Jamaica: Sangster's Book Stores. OCLC&#;
  • Selected Poems. Jamaica: Sangster's Book Stores.
  • Auntie Roachy Seh.

    Jamaica: Sangster's Book Stores.

  • Louise Bennett-Coverley - Wikipedia
  • Miss Lou's Archive - National Library of Jamaica
  • About | LBC Heritage Council
  • Miss Lou's Archive - National Library of Jamaica
  • About | LBC Heritage Council

Recordings

  • Jamaican Folk Songs. New York: Folkways. OCLC&#;
  • Yes m'dear: Miss Lou live!. Sonic Sounds. OCLC&#;

See also

References

  1. ^"Miss Lou Celebration Next Sunday", Jamaica Gleaner, 31 August
  2. ^ abNwankwo, Ifeoma Kiddoe (1 January ).

    "Introduction (Ap)Praising Louise Bennett: Jamaica, Panama, and Beyond". Journal of West Indian Literature. 17 (2): VIII–XXV. JSTOR&#;

  3. ^ abcJohnson, Linton Kwesi (March ). "Louise Bennett, Voice of a People". Wasafiri. 22 (1): 70– doi/ S2CID&#;
  4. ^Hohn, Nadia L.

    (). A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louis Bennett Coverly Found Her Voice.

  5. Lorna goodison biography
  6. Louise bennett
  7. Louise bennett poems jamaica

    8. Toronto, ON: Owlkids Books. pp.&#;Author's Note. ISBN&#;.

  8. ^ ab"Louise Bennett, Queen of Jamaican Culture". Archives & Research Collections. McMaster University Library. Archived from the original on 8 August Retrieved 1 May
  9. ^Murphy, Xavier ().

    "Louise Bennett-Coverley Biography". Retrieved 28 November

  10. ^ abcMoses, Knolly (29 July ). "Louise Bennett, Jamaican Folklorist, Dies at 86". The New York Times.

    Louise bennett coverley biography She collected the stories and cultural wisdom of her people and kept it alive by passing it on. Toronto Star. She enjoys Theatre, Movies and Auction sales. Authority control databases.

    Retrieved 28 November

  11. ^Morris, Mervyn (1 August ). "Louise Bennett-Coverley". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November
  12. ^"Biography of Dr. the Honourable Louise Bennett Coverley", Louise Bennett official website.
  13. ^"Hon. Louise Bennett Coverley OM, OJ, MBE –"(PDF).

    Lorna goodison biography: My dad remembers her coming to the rural country areas to perform at schools when he was young. Lou was truly a Jamaican icon. Early life [ edit ]. A beloved Jamaican poet, folklorist, writer, and educator, Miss Lou pioneered the use of Jamaican Patois in poetry, establishing it as a respected literary language.

    Jamaica Cultural Development Agency. Retrieved 14 August

  14. ^Morris, Mervyn (). "Remembering Miss Lou". Caribbean Beat (82). Retrieved 14 August
  15. ^ abWilliams, Dawn P. (). Who's Who in Black Canada&#;: Black success and Black excellence in Canada&#;: a contemporary directory.

    Toronto: D. Williams. pp.&#;61– ISBN&#;.

  16. ^Stewart, Jocelyn Y. (2 August ). "Louise Bennett-Coverly, 86; Helped Preserve Culture and Language of Jamaica". Los Angeles Times.

    Miss louise bennett biography of christopher Basil Bryan, Consul General of Jamaica, praised Bennett as an inspiration to Jamaicans as she "proudly presented the Jamaican language and culture to a wider world and today we are the beneficiaries of that audacity. Miami-Broward Carnival Celebrates 40th Anniversary! She married Eric Winston Coverley in who died in and has one stepson and several adopted children. Author's Note.

    Retrieved 14 September

  17. ^" Louise Simone Bennett-Coverley or Miss Lou". Toronto Star. 6 June Retrieved 14 September
  18. ^"Eric Coverley dies at 91 – News". Jamaica Observer. 8 August Retrieved 6 August
  19. ^ abWong, D.

    (14 February ). "A treasure trove from Miss Lou". Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved 28 November

  20. ^ abJohnson, Richard (24 October ).

    Louise bennett poems Miami-Broward Carnival Celebrates 40th Anniversary! Louise Bennett was born on September 7, She died on 27 July at the Scarborough Grace Hospital after collapsing at her home. Thank you Miss Lou.

    "Miss Lou Archives opens at National Library - Entertainment". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 27 November

  21. ^"Miss Lou to be Buried on August 9". Jamaican Information Service. 1 August Retrieved 28 November
  22. ^"A Phenomenal Woman – the Hon. Louise Bennett-Coverley." The Weekly Gleaner, North American ed.: 21 August ProQuest. Web.

    4 March

  23. ^Bailey, Carol (1 January ). "Looking in: Louise Bennett's Pioneering Caribbean Postcolonial Discourse". Journal of West Indian Literature. 17 (2): 20– JSTOR&#;
  24. ^Neigh, Janet (1 January ). "The Lickle Space of the Tramcar in Louise Bennett's Feminist Postcolonial Poetics".

    Journal of West Indian Literature. 17 (2): 5– JSTOR&#;

  25. ^Abbott, Christian (7 September ). "Who is Louise 'Miss Lou' Bennett Coverley? Google Doodle celebrates life of icon". The Mirror. Retrieved 7 September
  26. ^Cross, Jason (21 October ). "Miss Lou Archives launched at National Library of Jamaica to promote her great legacy".

    . Retrieved 27 November

  27. ^"Miss Lou's Room".
  28. ^Morris, Mervyn (). Miss Lou: Louise Bennett and Jamaican Culture. Andrews UK Limited. p.&#; ISBN&#;. Retrieved 1 May
  29. ^"Louise Bennett Exchange Fellowship in Caribbean Literary Studies University of Toronto – University of West Indies".

    University of Toronto. Archived from the original on 24 September Retrieved 1 May

  30. ^ abInfantry, Ashante (3 February ). "Jamaican 'royal' reigns here by fostering joy of language Island's 'cultural ambassador' to be honored for 60 years of work in arts".

    Toronto Star.

  31. ^"The Mother Of Jamaican Culture Remembered". The Gleaner. 3 June Retrieved 1 May
  32. ^"Poet and storyteller 'Miss Lou'". York University. YFile. 28 July Retrieved 1 May

External links