The Louise Bennett Coverley Festival Committee has received high praise for its devoted efforts to honour Dr Louise Bennett Coverley, renowned as ‘Miss Lou,’ and her astounding legacy.

The accolade was delivered by Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, during a special birthday tribute held on Saturday, September 7.

The event, held at the Excelsior Community College School of the Performing Arts in Kingston, was a collaborative effort between the Festival Committee, Excelsior High School, and the college.

The celebration took place in the institution’s lecture theatre.

Born on 7 September 1919 and passing away on 26 July 2006 in Canada, Miss Lou was interred at National Heroes Park, reserved for cultural icons.

In a speech delivered by cultural expert Sydney Bartley, Minister Grange praised Committee Chair Professor Opal Palmer Adisa, Acting Head of Excelsior’s School of the Performing Arts Kenny Salmon, and other committee members for their outstanding efforts.

Grange highlighted the Committee’s commitment to honouring Miss Lou’s significant contributions to Jamaican culture.

“It is indeed an endearing moment and an act of sheer devotion and love that a nation should still, 105 years and four generations after the birth of an individual, pause to celebrate someone of such iconic stature, anchored in their continued influence on society,” said Grange.

She noted that the true measure of an individual’s significance is the void left by their absence, stating: “Today, there remains a space of monumental proportion in Jamaican culture dedicated to the Honourable Miss Lou.”

Grange also acknowledged Miss Lou’s profound connection to ordinary Jamaicans and her promotion of patois, the Jamaican dialect.

She praised the dialect for its rich worldview, which includes proverbs and sayings that helped people overcome discrimination and societal barriers.

A graduate of Excelsior High School and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, Miss Lou played a pivotal role in showcasing Jamaica’s culture and language internationally.

Her contributions to Jamaican literature and culture were recognised with the Order of Merit (OM), and the Order of Jamaica (OJ), and she was named a Member of the British Empire (MBE).