Why, What, How, When, Where, Who.

I could simply answer 1919 and walk away. But that is not my intention. I want to tell you about the amazing ‘Cargo Cults”- the stories woven around the archipelago of Melanesia.

Melanesia is in the region of Oceania extending from the western side of the West Pacific to the Arafura Sea, north and northeast of Australia.

During 1919, there was a sort of revolt among the natives of Melanesia who were reported to have possessed by the spirits of their ancestors. They were all sick violently with shaking and hysteria. They refused to work and revolted against their religion.

They held big feasts in honor of their ancestors who were expected to arrive on a specific day in a steamer filled treasures such as food, clothes and weapons. The ancestors were said to have developed white skin in the astral world.

This incident became to be known as Cargo Cults.

Map of Melanesia by Melinuk

Melanesians-Google Imgaes.

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