If you’re like me, you’ve probably never heard of Cargo Cults before this, and if you’re like me, you’re probably very interested to find out what they are. A cargo cult is exactly what it sounds like, people believe that by performing certain rituals, they will gain material wealth in the form of “cargo” from more tehcnologically advanced societies.

These cults are diverse, but some common rituals include the building of “runways” in the hopes that airplanes carrying goods will be more receptive to landing there. They believed this because often times, GIs would land in such islands for refueling and brought plastics and other materials to these societies.

⊕ Ceremonial cross of the John Frum cargo cult, on Vanuatu

These cults, millenarian in nature, were first described in Melanesia in the wake of contact with more technologically advanced Western cultures. Originally, these cults were thought to be simply caused by tribal misunderstanding of western capitalism, etc., but many cargo cults focus on the building of new societal relationships with the people that they trade with. Many of these cults also believe that at some point, a “messiah” of some sort will come to them and bring them great gifts. It took the British a great deal of effort to put down a rebellion inspired by one who claimed to be that messiah (Tikka Movement, 1885 Fiji).

See also:

• https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/1959-cargo-cults-melanesia/