Multi-instrumentalist musician, singer and educator James Lovell is passionate about teaching the community’s children the Garifuna language through music so that it is not lost over time. Through his former organization Ellagulei (Roots) and his current company Habinahan Garinagu (Dance Garifuna), he’s been involved in education for almost 20 years. “I’m singing to give my people a voice,” Lovell says. “So they can know there’s pain, unnecessary suffering, human rights violations in my community.”
He also displays a lighter side in this cover of “Lady in Red,” sung in Garifuna—but he changes it to “Wuri Garifuna” (Garifuna Woman).
But the number one thing for him is the importance of education through music—as you can see in this video of Lovell teaching an audience how to sing the children’s song “Are You Sleeping?” in Garifuna at the Endangered Language Alliance.