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September 01, 2008
Miss Lou to be celebrated in South Florida
On September 6 the life and legacy of the late Louise Bennett-Coverley will be celebrated in South Florida once more. In commemorating Miss Lou’s 88th birthday, Jamaican’s in South Florida will host an evening of song, dance and drama performances at the Sierra Norwood Calvary Baptist Church in North Miami. It will be the third annual community cultural tribute and scholarship fund-raiser.
As has been the custom, the proceeds will continue to support the Louise Bennett-Coverley Scholarship Fund tenable at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston.
Encouraging parents in the Diaspora to have their children participate in the event, Norma Darby, Director of the Florida based Jamaica Folk Revue sees this as an important step in familiarizing children with Jamaica’s culture. Following the passing of Miss Lou in July 2006, Darby initiated the scholarship programme that got underway in September that same year and it affords one student the opportunity to pursue the three-year diploma course in the performing arts annually. Since its inception the scholarship has been awarded to three students, two at the School of Drama and Dance and one at the School of Music.
In describing Miss Lou, Darby said she was , "A great folklorist who made Jamaicans proud of our vernacular, knowing that it is respected as another language, giving us pride and dignity in our cultural heritage." The scholarship programme therefore stands as an investment in continuing Miss Lou’s invaluable contribution to Jamaica’s cultural development.
A talented line-up is slated for the event that includes: dub poet, Malachi Smith, Jeanne Powell, the Jamaica folk Revue, Tallawah Mento Band, Reverend Easton Lee, Sophia Nicholson, Chris Gilchrist and the Sierra Norwood Calvary Church Children’s Choir. The programme will be presented under the patronage of the Jamaica Consulate General.