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Jamaica's Dr. Louise Bennett Coverley or Miss Lou as she was affectionately called, was born in Kingston, Jamaica on 7th September, 1919. A cultural icon locally, regionally and internationally, Miss Lou was one of Jamaica's leading comediennes and the 'only poet who . . .really hit the truth about her society through its own language.' Miss Lou has been successful in capturing "all the spontaneity of the expression of Jamaicans' joys and sorrows, their poignant and even wicked wit, their religion and their philosophy of life." Miss Lou -- Dr. Louise Bennett Coverley has made a distinguished contribution to the development of Arts and Culture in both in Jamaica and the Caribbean region at large. Through her skillfully penned prose in Jamaican patois, Miss Lou has been able to raise the folk dialect to an art level now accepted and appreciated by all Jamaicans.
Dr. Louise Bennett Coverley, through many years of research, has provided Jamaica with a vast reference collection of "valid documents reflecting the way Jamaicans think and feel and live". The proud recipient of two Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Letters, one from the University of the West Indies in 1983 and the other from York University of Toronto Canada in 1998 -- is testimony in itself and an achievement which speaks volumes of the high recognition of one of our true Caribbean Gems.