MIAMI – The second ANNUAL COMMUNITY CULTURAL TRIBUTE and SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER honoring the life and legacy of the late Hon. Louise Bennett-Coverley, O.M., O.J., will be held on Friday, September 7th, beginning at 7 p.m., at the Sierra Norwood CalvaryBaptist Church, 495 NW 191 Street, Miami Gardens.
Under the patronage of Jamaica’s Consul General, Mr. C. P. Ricardo Allicock, the event will again observe Miss Lou’s Birthday (Sept. 7), through song, dance and drama in commemoration of her work. The proceeds from this event will go towards the Louise Bennett-Coverley Scholarship Fund.
The scholarship is tenable at the “Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts” in Kingston. At the initiation of the annual scholarship program, Two students from the School of Drama at that Institution, were the initial recipients of the first scholarships presented in November, 2006.
As the program continues, scholarships will be( awarded to students in other specialty departments of the Edna Manley College) rotated through the Schools of the Performing Arts of the Edna Manley College.
According to Mrs. Norma Darby, Director of the Florida-based folklore group, the Jamaican Folk Revue, Miss Lou, throughout her life and career, made immeasurable contributions to Jamaica’s cultural development and left a legacy, which has given to all, a sense of dignity, authenticity and pride, in our heritage and culture.
As she encouraged the community to join in celebrating the legacy of the late Louise Bennett-Coverley, Mrs. Darby spoke of the variety of local South Florida performers participating in what she described as an entertaining evening. Some of those include dub poet, Malachi Smith, Ms. Jeanne Powell (South Florida’s Miss Lou), Sierra Norwood Baptist Church “Ring Ding”children’s choir, Ms. Sophie Nicholson, poet, Tallawah Mento Band ,poet “ Ms Ivy” Armstrong and Jamaican Folk Revue among others.
Tickets are $10 per person. For further information call the following:
(305) 613-4365. (305) 510-7705, (954) 432-6243, (305) 891-2944, (786) 349-2584.
The Hon. Louise Bennett-Coverley, (Miss Lou as she was affectionately called) died in July last year, at age 86, in Toronto, Canada where she had resided for more than a decade.
Described as Jamaica’s cultural icon, Miss Lou accomplished an illustrious career as poet, plawright, comedienne, actor, lyricist and actor. She was also the recipient of several international and national awards and accolades throughout her career.
