As Britons mourn the death of Prince Philip, they are joined by a tribal community on a Pacific island half a world away.
For decades, two villages on the Vanuatuan island of Tanna have revered the Duke of Edinburgh as a god-like spiritual figure.
A formal period of mourning is now under way.
On Monday, scores of tribespeople gathered in a ceremony to remember Prince Philip.
“The connection between the people on the island of Tanna and the English people is very strong… We are sending condolence messages to the Royal Family and the people of England,” said tribal leader Chief Yapa, according to Reuters news agency.
For the next few weeks, villagers will periodically meet to conduct rites for the duke, who is seen as a “recycled descendant of a very powerful spirit or god that lives on one of their mountains”, says anthropologist Kirk Huffman who has studied the tribes since the 1970s.
They will likely conduct ritualistic dance, hold a procession, and display memorabilia of Prince Philip, while the men will drink kava, a ceremonial drink made from the roots of the kava plant.
–
“And also pigs, because they are a primary source of protein. I would expect numerous pigs to be killed for the ceremonial event.”
Click the link below to continue…
