Left: Full of pride, Changa-Changa rides through St James on his faithful bicycle. Right: Changa-Changa's colourful costume is only matched by his colourful personality. - Photos by Hope Evans
WESTERN BUREAU:
Trelawny native Robert Lee 'Changa-Changa' Young is as zany as they come. The self-proclaimed Jamaican heritage icon wears 'ambush clothing' and travels everywhere on his most loyal form of transportation: a red vintage bicycle adorned with fresh flowers.
His shoes are made out of trees. His pants and shirt are woven together with a combination of coconut and banana leaves, and palm tree stems. Garden flowers often ornament his straw hat that stays perched atop his strawberry-brown dreadlocks.
Thirty-seven-year-old Changa-Changa has been a bartender, a waiter, a teacher, and held various positions within the tourism industry. Now, he is just as ambitious as a farmer, a volunteer craft educator and entertainer. Recently however, he has subscribed to a more unworldly title.
'I create everything'
"I am a creator," Changa-Changa proudly pronounces. "I create everything from what I wear to what I build."
The intricate bamboo necklace he wears and his pants made of palm tree leaves and stem are some examples of Changa-Changa's unique creations. Further, the fact that he crafts many organically nurtured items and knows about Jamaican history, he says, makes him a reservoir of national heritage.
While he doesn't have a chosen profession, Changa-Changa undoubtedly works hard. He rises early before the sun to tend to the land. He said digging and planting flowers and food connects him to the Jamaican landscape and allows him to explore natural crafting.
Growing up without a father was difficult for him, Changa-Changa said. He believes it is important to teach children that despite hardships and paternal absenteeism, they should stay on the straight and narrow. He is adamant about advising his own children to "never stop learning" and "be themselves".
Survival of Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 has taught him to be more appreciative of every moment of life. During the natural disaster, he climbed on to his roof to repair a hole. Before he knew it, he was stranded.
The rains and winds were too strong for the roof to resist. It crushed his body, leaving deep, permanent scars, including one on his face. According to Changa-Changa, the hurricane experience is part of the reason why he now fears God.
Changa-Changa's philosophy is simple: be organic and stay focused - a doctrine he stressed that everyone should follow. He also feels strongly about another issue: the resort development of the Cockpit Country.
"They'd (developers) be taking beautiful and natural resources and turning them into a concrete jungle!"
Opposes resort development
He strongly opposes the development and said he hopes his homeland would be spared from resort development, which could compromise the ecosystem's allure.
While Changa-Changa can often be found late afternoons on Gloucester's Hip Strip near Dead End (Montego Bay) taking pictures with tourists or talking with friends, whenever he appears to be "hanging around," he is always networking, he said. He soon hopes to obtain a Polaroid camera for instant pictures for his large tourist fan base.
hope.evans@gleanerjm.com