The Gods must be American

In Vanuatu, on a remote island paradise, a tribe worships Americans like gods.

Lost in time since their World War II exposure to American G.I.s, the members of the “John Frum” tribe live simply beneath an active volcano.

Isolated almost completely from the outside world, they perform daily rituals with an American flag, worship a bald-eagle statue, an active volcano and once a week conduct nightlong ceremonies where they dance themselves into trance, worshiping their American God. It is the world’s largest and the last active Cargo Cult.

Once a year, they celebrate the first arrival of the American Flag with “military” marches with bamboo rifles, jeans and USA writing on the chests.

Villagers believe in keeping themselves pristine and unaltered by the outside world- so they’ll be ready when they are once again exposed to Americans who’ll make them “happy and wealthy”.