link<\/a> today to a story that was right up my alley: the Duke\u2019s status as a \u201cliving god\u201d on the on the volcanic island of Tanna in Vanuatu in the South Pacific.<\/p>\nThe island tribe there has been worshipping Prince Philip as \u201ca god\u201d for decades, despite the fact that he had a reputation for making politically incorrect remarks about other cultures, from Australian Aborigines to the Chinese.<\/p>\n
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A cluster of villages that worshipped him as a living deity held grief-stricken meetings on Saturday to decide how to commemorate his death.<\/p>\n
They plan to set up a \u201cpolitical movement\u201d in his honour. This not as unlikely as it sounds \u2013 a rival cult on Tanna called the John Frum Movement formed a political party some years ago and even managed to send an MP to the national parliament in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu.<\/p>\n
The islanders who worshipped Prince Philip live in a remote part of the forest on Tanna and were informed of his death by an anthropologist who lives on the island.<\/p>\n
Jean-Pascal\u00a0Wah\u00e9 said the villagers were \u201cvery upset\u201d to be told of the death of the Duke, who they refer to in pidgin English as \u201cnumber one big fella him bilong Misis Kwin (Queen).\u201d<\/p>\n
Kirk Huffman, a British anthropologist who worked in Vanuatu for many years and is in contact with the people of Tanna, said it was hard to say when a funerary ceremony for Prince Philip would be held.<\/p>\n
But the details will be thrashed out over endless cups of kava, a mildly narcotic drink resembling muddy water that is made from the crushed roots of a pepper plant.<\/p>\n
It could be days from now, it could be weeks. They are meeting today to decide how to proceed with the funerary rituals and to figure out how to pay their respects to Prince Philip.<\/p>\n
There are two slightly antagonistic groups that have come together. They will iron out their differences and come to an agreement. They\u2019re experts at conflict resolution \u2013 that is the Vanuatu way.<\/p>\n
I have had messages from the son of one of the big chiefs and it seems that what may come out of this is that they will try to form a political party, just like the John Frum Movement across the island.<\/p>\n
The John Frum Movement is a cargo cult that emerged in the 1930s when islanders rebelled against the proselytising of Presbyterian missionaries and put their faith in a shadowy figure called John Frum.<\/p>\n
The islanders came to associate the Queen\u2019s consort with an ancient prophecy that said a spirit from Tanna would venture far away in search of a powerful woman to marry.<\/p>\n
Elements of Christianity such as the Second Coming of Christ, taught to the islanders by missionaries, were blended into their beliefs.<\/p>\n
The prince was well aware of the belief in his divinity. He sent the islanders a signed, official photograph of himself, which became a prized possession among his followers.<\/p>\n
In return the villagers sent him a traditional pig-slaughtering club called a nal-nal.<\/em> He in turn sent back a photo of himself holding the club.<\/p>\nVanuatu, a member of the Commonwealth, has a population of just 300,000 people but boasts more than 130 different languages, making it one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world.<\/p>\n
Hat tip: Robert Stovold<\/strong><\/p>\n
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I\u2019d love a cup of coffee<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"