Kastom is a pidgin word ( Bislama / Tok Pisin ) used to refer to traditional culture, including religion, economics, art and magic in Melanesia .
9-586: The Prince Philip movement is a religious sect followed by the Kastom people around the villages of Yaohnanen and Yakel on the southern island of Tanna in Vanuatu . It is a cargo cult of the Yaohnanen tribe, who believe in the divinity of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921–2021), consort to Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022). According to ancient Yaohnanen tales, the son of a mountain spirit travelled over them. He
18-547: A few villagers had the opportunity to actually see Prince Philip from a distance. The Prince was not then aware of the sect, but it was brought to his attention several years later by John Champion, the British Resident Commissioner in the New Hebrides . Champion suggested that Prince Philip send them a portrait of himself. He agreed and sent a signed official photograph . The villagers responded by sending him
27-538: A traditional pig-killing club called a nal-nal . In compliance with their request, the Prince sent a photograph of himself posing with the club. Another photograph was sent in 2000. All three photographs were kept by Chief Jack Naiva, who died in 2009. Anne, Princess Royal , visited Tanna in October 2014. She had visited Vanuatu in 1974, but had not previously travelled to the island. Charles III , then Prince of Wales , visited
36-530: Is mostly not written, only passed down through teachings and stories. It is concentrated through: The use of the word is slightly different in the different countries and cultures of Melanesia. There are designated Kastom villages in Vanuatu which are open to tourists, dedicated to preserving Kastom. Jolly, Margaret. Women of the Place: Kastom, Colonialism, and Gender in Vanuatu . This article about
45-528: The Union Jack , danced, and ate pigs. The villagers were initially unaware of the wedding, until a travel agent for the island, who was contacted by The Times , relayed the message. In April 2021, the sect mourned Prince Philip's death . Village Chief Albi said that he was "terribly, terribly sorry" and tribal leader Chief Yapa sent his condolences to the Royal Family. The Union Flag was flown at half staff on
54-511: The grounds of the nakamal . Referring to the Queen, Chief Jack Malia said though the Duke is dead, they still have a connection with the "mother" of the royal family. Kirk Huffman, an anthropologist familiar with the group, said that after their period of mourning the group would probably transfer their veneration to Prince Charles (now King Charles III), who had visited Vanuatu in 2018 and met with some of
63-538: The island in 2018. On 27 September 2007, Channel 4 broadcast Meet the Natives , a reality show about five Tanna men from the Prince Philip Movement on a visit to Britain. Their trip culminated in an off-screen audience with Philip, where gifts were exchanged, including a new photograph of the Prince. The sect celebrated the 2018 wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle by holding a party, where they hoisted
72-472: The tribal leaders. Kastom The term is the generally accepted term in anthropology to describe such phenomena as well as the common and lay term used in everyday language. The word derives from the Australian English pronunciation of 'custom' but crosses meanings that incorporate: It is consistent in spelling across most of the many variations in pidgin and pisin across the region. Kastom
81-451: Was sometimes said to be a brother to John Frum . The people of the Yaohnanen and Takel area had seen the respect accorded to Queen Elizabeth II by the colonial officials and concluded that her husband, Prince Philip, must be the son referred to in their legends. It is unclear just when this belief came about, but it was probably some time in the 1950s or 1960s. It was strengthened by the royal couple's official visit to Vanuatu in 1974, when
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