Ontario artistes keeping the legacy of Miss Lou alive

In Ontario, artists Tania Hernandez and Nadia L. Hohn are actively working to keep the spirit and legacy of Jamaica's late cultural ambassador, Louise Bennett-Coverley, affectionately known as Miss Lou, alive.

Tania Hernandez, a Jamaican-born, Hamilton-based artist, has dedicated over three decades to celebrating and preserving Jamaican culture. Her multifaceted career includes roles as an educator, speaker, author, and recording artist. Recently, on July 9, she was honored with a Creator Award at the City of Hamilton's 2026 Arts Awards ceremony. This award recognizes artists for their excellence and contributions to the city's vibrant arts scene.

The city lauded Hernandez for her "edification-through-education" approach, which brings Jamaican folklore, wit, and resilience to life. She fosters cross-cultural understanding through initiatives like her "Ring Ding" children's program and supports organizations such as City Kidz. Hernandez expressed that the recognition provides a larger platform to celebrate her Jamaican and Caribbean roots, ensuring Afro-Canadian and Caribbean voices are heard in Hamilton.

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Utilizing a unique ‘edification-through-education’ approach, Tania brings the vibrant folklore, wit, and resilience of her birthland to life, inspiring audiences and fostering a joyful connection to Jamaica’s rich cultural legacy.

Hernandez has a busy summer schedule, including workshops at the Jamaica Foundation Hamilton's Afro-Caribbean Cultural Summer Camp and performances at the Jamaica Liaison Service's Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme Diamond Jubilee. She will also host Anansi story workshops at the annual JerkFest and participate in the Emancipation celebration at Fieldcote Museum.

Nadia L. Hohn, an award-winning children's book author and educator, was inspired by her research for "A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett-Coverley Found Her Voice." This led her to write her first play, "Wheel and Turn," in 2021.

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It gives me a bigger platform to celebrate my Jamaican and Caribbean roots and to ensure Afro-Canadian and Caribbean voices are seen and heard in Hamilton. I am carrying my heritage, my people, and my story on to that stage, while keeping alive the memories and works of Miss Lou. Ay ya yai.