Somewhere on the lush Pacific island of Tanna in Vanuatu, a group of devoted followers are doing what the rest of us do when waiting for someone who’s running late — except instead of checking their phones every five minutes, they’ve been at it since the 1930s. And their tardy guest? An American fellow named John Frum.
The John Frum movement is one of history’s most fascinating examples of a “cargo cult” — a religious movement that emerged in the Pacific during the colonial era, built around the belief that a messianic figure will arrive bearing spectacular gifts of wealth and prosperity. Think of it as the world’s most optimistic blind date, stretched across nine decades.
The movement took root on Tanna no later than the late 1930s, when followers began venerating John Frum — typically depicted as an American serviceman, possibly because U.S. military presence in the Pacific during World War II meant Americans seemed to arrive from nowhere trailing extraordinary amounts of… well, cargo. Jeeps, canned food, radios — the whole shebang. If you’d never seen industrial supply chains before, you’d probably assume it was divine intervention too.
In one particularly colorful origin story, a local man named Manehivi showed up dressed in a sharp Western-style coat, adopted the alias “John Frum,” and promised his neighbors houses, clothes, food, and transportation. Honestly, that’s a more compelling political platform than most candidates manage today.
Decades of waiting haven’t dampened the movement’s enthusiasm. Followers on Tanna still raise American flags, march in John Frum’s honor, and maintain their faith with a dedication that would make the most devoted fan club blush. When a journalist once asked a village elder whether he was discouraged that John Frum hadn’t shown up after 19 years of waiting, the elder reportedly replied: “You Christians have been waiting 2,000 years for Jesus to return. You can give me a few more years.”
Touché, elder. Absolute touché.
The John Frum movement remains active today, complete with its own political party in Vanuatu. So if you happen to be an American named John Frum reading this — buddy, you’ve got some very patient people waiting on you. Maybe bring snacks.
*Source: Boing Boing*
Original story via Boing Boing
