Cargo cults in Melanesia are focused on obtaining cargo (material wealth) from the Western World through magic and religious rituals and practices. Cargo cult followers believe that cargo, which their ancestors intended for them, was unfairly taken by crafty Westerners.

In the first part of 20 century many Melanesian cargo cults were building, big wooden aircraft, landing strips and bamboo control towers, duplicating white men’s rituals in the hope they would attract real airplanes with cargo to the island. This tradition no longer exists, but some elderly cult followers remember imitating American soldiers they had observed during World War 2.

On Tanna Island in Vanuatu people believe in a mythological man called John Frum, who appeared in 1937. He told the islanders to go back to their old traditions and start to live in customary ways. In exchange for this, all locals would receive cargo.

Every day in Lamakara village, cult followers raise an American flag, which symbolises power and material wealth that is still owned by Westerners. (According to the legend, John Frum was from America and it is thought “Frum” might be a distortion of the word “from”). According to local myth, John should come back with cargo on February 15, so on this day, every year, the people of Lamakara wear US military uniforms given to them by tourists. Many locals paint “USA” on their chests and backs and march with bamboo rifles in US Navy style.