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Louise Bennett Colonization In Reverse
Tun History Upside Dung!
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By Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer
Louise Bennett-Coverley, who we affectionately call Miss Lou is still a cherished figure in our Jamaican culture. She is celebrated for her pioneering use of everyday dialect, Jamaican Patois, in poetry and advocacy for our cultural heritage. Shaped by our rich oral traditions her work often humorously critiques some of our societal norms and historical ironies, as seen vividly in her poem "Colonization in Reverse."
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Colonization In Reverse
By: Louise Bennett (1966)
Wat a joyful news, miss Mattie,
I feel like me heart gwine burs
Jamaica people colonizin
Englan in reverse.
By de hundred, by de tousan
From country and from town,
By de ship-load, by de plane-load
Jamaica is Englan boun.
Dem a pour out a Jamaica
Everybody future plan
Is fe get a big-time job
An settle in de mother lan.
What a islan! What a people!
Man an woman, old an young
Jus a pack dem bag an baggage
An tun history upside dung!
Some people doan like travel,
But fe show dem loyalty
Dem all a open up cheap-fare-
To-Englan agency.
An week by week dem shippin off
Dem countryman like fire,
Fe immigrate an populate
De seat a de Empire.
Oonoo see how life is funny,
Oonoo see de tunabout?
Jamaica live fe box bread
Out a English people mout’.
For wen dem ketch a Englan,
An start play dem different role,
Some will settle down to work
An some will settle fe de dole.
Jane say de dole is not too bad
Because dey payin she
Two pounds a week fe seek a job
Dat suit her dignity.
Me say Jane will never fine work
At de rate how she dah look,
For all day she stay pon Aunt Fan couch
An read love-story book.
Wat a devilment a Englan!
Dem face war an brave de worse,
But me wonderin how dem gwine stan
Colonizin in reverse.
A Brief Analysis
"Colonization in Reverse" exemplifies Bennett-Coverley’s satirical wit and astute observations on post-colonial dynamics. The poem humorously depicts the mass migration of Jamaicans to England during the mid-20th century, which was a period when Britain faced a labour shortage and actively recruited workers from its former colonies.
Using our own Patois dialect like she always does, Miss Lou playfully critiqued the reversal of roles; Even though once exploited by the British Empire, Jamaicans had began to sought economic opportunities in England, echoing a historical irony. The poem’s structure, with its rhythmic ABCB rhyme scheme and colloquial language, mirrors the cadence of traditional calypso music, enhancing its accessibility and humour.
More About Louise Bennett's Life
Louise Bennett-Coverley was more than just a poet—she was a cultural icon whose impact extended far beyond the realms of literature. She was raised by her mother in Kingston after her father’s passing. She began writing at a pretty young age, contributing her first poems to one of our most esteemed newspapers, The Daily Gleaner. Her decision to write in Jamaican Patois, a bold departure from the standard English literary tradition, initially drew criticism but ultimately solidified her reputation as a trailblazer.
In 1943, Bennett-Coverley’s journey took her to London on a British Council scholarship, where she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and later became a BBC radio host. This period of her life marked a pivotal moment in her career, as she explored and celebrated Caribbean culture through her broadcasts, notably hosting the popular program Caribbean Carnival.
Returning to Jamaica in 1954, Bennett-Coverley continued to champion Jamaican folklore and oral traditions, earning the affectionate title of "Miss Lou." Her iconic phrase "walk good," a warm patois farewell, became synonymous with her advocacy for the acceptance and celebration of Jamaican Patois as a national language.
Her legacy extends beyond her poetry. As a cultural ambassador and advocate for Jamaican identity, she influenced generations of poets, including Linton Kwesi Johnson and Valerie Bloom, and left an un erasable mark on not just Jamaica but Caribbean literature on a whole. Her recognition with the Order of Merit of Jamaica in 2001 affirmed her enduring impact on national culture.
Colonization in Reverse remains as a poignant yet light-hearted commentary on historical irony and cultural identity in Jamaica. Through her vibrant use of Patois and keen observations, she invites readers to reflect on the complexities of post-colonial relationships with wit and charm. One of the main reasons she is a beloved figure in our Jamaican literature and culture.
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References & Sources For Louise Bennett Colonization In Reverse
- Poetry By Heart. (n.d.). https://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/colonization-in-reverse
- Louise Bennett – Colonization in Reverse. (n.d.). Genius. https://genius.com/Louise-bennett-colonization-in-reverse-annotated
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