Vanuatu: Tanna Island – Singsing
Colorfully dressed and face-painted women performed an elaborate singsing traditional dance in a large open space in front of the village and next to the black sand beach. The people of Tanna are known for their strong connection to traditional customs and practices and “kastom”, the local term for traditional culture, plays a significant role in their daily lives. One of the notable aspects is the continuation of custom ceremonies, including the famous “John Frum” aka “Cargo” movement, a unique blend of indigenous beliefs and the embrace of a mythical American figure. The Cargo movement originated on Tanna Island, and centers around the belief in a messianic figure named “John Frum” or “John from America”, a messiah who will one day come to the island and bring the precious “cargo” and wealth to everybody. The movement has its roots in the early 20th century when the islanders encountered Western goods brought by colonial powers. John Frum is often associated with the arrival of these goods and is considered a symbol of hope and a source of abundance.
