Celebrating Miss Lou with poetry, music and laughter

An international centre for contemporary arts, culture and ideas in Toronto recently celebrated the 105th birthday of Louise Bennett-Coverley, Jamaica’s culture icon.

Titled “Celebrating Miss Lou: A Life of Poetry, Music, and Love,” the event honoured the cultural icon through a workshop inside the new Miss Lou Learning Centre which was officially opened on her birthday, September 7, a tour of the centre, and a variety show.

Seventeen years ago, Miss Lou’s Room opened at the Harbourfront Centre on July 26, 2007 – on the first anniversary of her death. It was housed in a different space and was recently relocated and renamed.

The interactive workshop “Is That You, Miss Lou?” was led by Jamaican Canadian guitarist Maurice Gordon and educator Marsha Laylor who focused on the life and legacy of Miss Lou. Participants explored how Miss Lou transformed everyday Jamaican experiences into captivating poetry filled with humour, wisdom, and warmth. The session was an opportunity to engage in spoken word, music, and drama, inspired by Miss Lou’s unique storytelling style.

After the workshop there was a tour of the learning centre led by Laylor which provided insights into the life and work of Miss Lou, highlighting her efforts in preserving and promoting Jamaican Creole or Jamaican Patois and folklore.

The two-hour special performance by Gordon’s band, Pimento Groove, alongside guest singer Mel Dube and poet and writer Mello Ayo, at the Lakeside Terrace, ended the day’s five-hour celebration of the late and beloved Jamaican folklorist.

BRIEF HISTORY

Fabian Coverley said his mother was loving, caring and affectionate to him and all who she and husband Eric Coverley adopted to live with them.

“We were exposed to many sessions of the language, songs, proverbs, sayings, and culture. I got to know Jamaica travelling with her as she learnt from the people and taught. I miss driving her to the country and pantomimes, performances, and shows,” he said, noting that 18 years after her death, she is still relevant, remembered, honoured and her works are used worldwide.

He said the Louise Bennett-Coverley Estate is pleased with the relocation of the space honouring her.

Sharing a brief history of how Miss Lou’s Room came to be, Pamela Appelt, co-executor with Fabian of the Louise Bennett-Coverley Estate, said that at the funeral service for Miss Lou in August 2006 in Toronto one of the ministers of the Ontario government announced that the government would honour her in a meaningful way.

“It was not long after, I sought advice from our then CEO Bill Boyle and informed him that I would respectfully suggest to the minister that a space be named for Miss Lou at Harbourfront, especially since this is the first place that she performed in Toronto. My request was supported by Mary Anne Chambers who was a minister in the said government,” said Appelt, who was a director of the Harbourfront Centre’s board for ten years.

INDELIBLE MARK

She recalled that six months after the passing of Miss Lou the government announced funding for the room and in July 2007 the official opening of Miss Lou’s Room occurred. Jamaica’s former prime minister P.J. Patterson and a delegation from Jamaica attended alongside Ontario government ministers.

“The work that is being done here at Harbourfront caught the eyes of Jamaica National. Their generosity supported the activities and programmes in Miss Lou’s Room for many years and I am thankful.” She noted too that the VM Group supported last Saturday’s celebration.

Describing Miss Lou as a towering figure in Jamaican culture being celebrated in Jamaica, Canada, and the USA, Appelt said her contributions have left an indelible mark in these countries.

She said Miss Lou’s Room has hosted many community events and hundreds of students have visited it.

“I have no doubt that these two spaces that honour Miss Lou will continue to highlight this queen of Jamaican theatre, this mother of Jamaican culture, this Jamaican Canadian whose Canadian archives are stored at McMaster university for all to see.”

The variety show featured a rich tapestry of music, poetry, and storytelling – all inspired by Miss Lou’s trailblazing contributions to Jamaica’s culture.

Pimento Groove is dedicated to performing and preserving the rich folk rhythms and melodies of Jamaican Mento and other Caribbean genres. Their mission is to honour the contributions of Caribbean icons like Miss Lou and Harry Belafonte, and they aim to make this celebration an annual event in Toronto and beyond.

Chef Noel Cunningham baked and decorated a cake with Miss Lou’s image on it and veteran storyteller Itah Sadu was the compere.