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Rastaman raises pigs 'Times hard, everybody affi help demself'
Vivian Yapp is a Rastafarian who believes men should be smart, hardworking and ambitious. So it's this strong belief which makes him speak proudly of raising pigs.
Although Rastafarians normally strongly refrain from contact with pigs or the consumption of the meat, Yapp, a farmer from Ipswich, St Elizabeth, has overlooked such beliefs and among other animals has been raising pigs for almost 20 years.
"Is a living mi a look. A since '93 mi a do dis, look how times hard, everybody affi do something fi help demself. You affi look out fi yourself, suh nobody cyaa tell mi what fi do," reasoned Yapp earlier this week.
Yapp, 54, spent the earlier days of his life in Kingston after moving from Ipswich to the city.
As a young man, he landed a job as a muffler repairman and held the occupation for several years before falling on what he described as hard times, and eventually moved back to St Elizabeth in 1993.
With nothing to do, no way of making an income, Yapp returned to Ipswich where he cut wood and sold for some $4,000.
That money was used to buy the Rastaman's first pig.
"Mi come back a Ipswich and neva have nuttin fi do. A some stick mi go look and sell dem fi four gran'. A da same money deh mi use and buy a pig and a suh mi start and mi nuh look back since dat," he recalled as he stood playing with 'Stone', his favourite pig.
"A true him nuh know uno, mek him a gwaan so eno, him kinda shy," Yapp explained as the animal drew closer to him.
The pig then used his snout to rub all over Yapp's pants, a move which he says is done by the animal to show affection or the need for attention.
When asked how people react to him after hearing that he raises pigs, Yapp admitted he is often chastised and even called a 'madman' within his district and surrounding areas. But in return he claims those persons are illiterate.
"People have it seh mi mad eno, jus true dem see mi a do dis eno, but mi naw go stop and dem cyaa stop rasta. Dem can seh anything dem want fi seh but at the end of the day mi work fi miself. Dem too dunce and dark," he said.
While giving THE STAR a tour of his pig sty, Yapp played and talked to his animals, much like he would to any human being.
He used the opportunity to speak proudly of waking up every morning to attend to his pigs. He also has a few goats and chickens.
Today, Yapp has nine pigs but says he could have had more had it not been for the challenges his district has been left to face.
Factors such as no running water, no electricity and terrible road conditions have made things much more difficult for Yapp. Nevertheless, the ambitious farmer promised he will continue to work hard, regardless of what people think or say about him.
Vivian Yapp is a Rastafarian who believes men should be smart, hardworking and ambitious. So it's this strong belief which makes him speak proudly of raising pigs.
Although Rastafarians normally strongly refrain from contact with pigs or the consumption of the meat, Yapp, a farmer from Ipswich, St Elizabeth, has overlooked such beliefs and among other animals has been raising pigs for almost 20 years.
"Is a living mi a look. A since '93 mi a do dis, look how times hard, everybody affi do something fi help demself. You affi look out fi yourself, suh nobody cyaa tell mi what fi do," reasoned Yapp earlier this week.
Yapp, 54, spent the earlier days of his life in Kingston after moving from Ipswich to the city.
As a young man, he landed a job as a muffler repairman and held the occupation for several years before falling on what he described as hard times, and eventually moved back to St Elizabeth in 1993.
With nothing to do, no way of making an income, Yapp returned to Ipswich where he cut wood and sold for some $4,000.
That money was used to buy the Rastaman's first pig.
"Mi come back a Ipswich and neva have nuttin fi do. A some stick mi go look and sell dem fi four gran'. A da same money deh mi use and buy a pig and a suh mi start and mi nuh look back since dat," he recalled as he stood playing with 'Stone', his favourite pig.
"A true him nuh know uno, mek him a gwaan so eno, him kinda shy," Yapp explained as the animal drew closer to him.
The pig then used his snout to rub all over Yapp's pants, a move which he says is done by the animal to show affection or the need for attention.
When asked how people react to him after hearing that he raises pigs, Yapp admitted he is often chastised and even called a 'madman' within his district and surrounding areas. But in return he claims those persons are illiterate.
"People have it seh mi mad eno, jus true dem see mi a do dis eno, but mi naw go stop and dem cyaa stop rasta. Dem can seh anything dem want fi seh but at the end of the day mi work fi miself. Dem too dunce and dark," he said.
While giving THE STAR a tour of his pig sty, Yapp played and talked to his animals, much like he would to any human being.
He used the opportunity to speak proudly of waking up every morning to attend to his pigs. He also has a few goats and chickens.
Today, Yapp has nine pigs but says he could have had more had it not been for the challenges his district has been left to face.
Factors such as no running water, no electricity and terrible road conditions have made things much more difficult for Yapp. Nevertheless, the ambitious farmer promised he will continue to work hard, regardless of what people think or say about him.
Best quote, "Dem can seh anything dem want fi seh but at the end of the day mi work fi miself."
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