FEMALE FIRSTS

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about

Louise Bennett-Coverley (Miss Lou)

Louise Bennett-Coverley, known by her stage name Miss Lou, was one of the most influential figures in Jamaican culture. She was born in Kingston, Jamaica on September 7th 1919 and had a long career as a poet, folklorist, performer, educator and activist. She began writing poetry while in school and gradually grew a following. She received nationwide notice when in 1943 she was asked to publish a column of her poetry weekly in the Sunday Gleaner. Her role as a judge in drama shows across the island gave her an understanding about rural Jamaica and its customs. 

Her reputation grew as she became more and more involved in performances. Miss Lou wrote and performed all her poems in Jamaican Patois and was very instrumental in the acceptance of the creole language in mainstream art. This established respect and pride in Jamaica for its native culture and heritage. In 1945, Miss Lou became the first black student at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London when she won a British Council Scholarship. 

Throughout her career she made several appearances on Jamaican television and travelled extensively to promote and educate about Jamaican culture. For her contribution to Jamaican culture, Miss Lou was bestowed with several accolades including the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1960, the Order of Jamaica in 1974 and Honorary Doctorates from The University of the West Indies in 1983 and York University, Canada in 1998. Miss Lou died in Toronto, where she spent the last decade of her life, on July 26th 2006.

and as always have a chilled day from the Viking