Weds 5th September, 7:30pm Horse Hospital, London.   What is a Cargo Cult? The arrival of Presbyterian Missionaries in the South Pacific during late 19th and early 20th centuries saw Western ideals and religious beliefs gaining the upper hand over indigenous cultural traditions. But in the late 1930s something strange happened - the people of Vanuatu, particularly on the island Tanna, stopped going to church and began to spread the word of John Frum, a saviour who bade them to return to their old ways and reject Western values. People burned their money, killed their cattle and abandoned their homes, awaiting the new life promised by the mysterious John Frum.   With the influx of American soldiers during World War II the John Frum movement took another turn. The Americans, said Frum, were here to help, and would soon bring to Vanuatu all the wealth and technology that the islanders needed to start their lives afresh. 50 years later this help has yet to materialise, but, say the islanders, "John Frum, he still come". Each 15 February, the island plays host to an extraordinary religious ceremony when the John Frum members perform their elaborate rituals in the hope of drawing their saviour down from the skies. Pictured left: Life size model airplane built by locals in an attempt to lure cargo flights back to the jungle.   Illustrated Talk: Mike Jay   Earlier this year author Mike Jay visited the remote island of Tanna in the South Pacific to witness one of the world's strangest religious ceremonies "John Frum Day" in all its surreal glory. He gave an illustrated talk about his trip and explained the strange history of Vanuatu and John Frum. Read Mike's Cargo Cult article.   Mike Jay is the author of: Emporers of Dreams: Drugs in the 19th Century Artificial Paradises: A drugs Reader 1900: A Fin De Siecle reader (with Dr Michael Neve) Blue Tide: The Search for Soma   He is also a successful screen writer and regular contributor to Fortean Times and Bizarre magazines, and has written for The Guardian, The Times Literary Supplement, The Independent and numerous other publications.   Screening: Rare Archive Footage We screened rare archive material from the 1960s and 70s about the Tanna Cargo Cult.   Discussion: Mike Jay opened up the discussion to the audience.   Introduction to Kava Kava: Julian Mayne Kava Kava is an indigenous, mildly psychoactive plant which is prepared and drunk every night by the men of Vanuatu, who use it during important town meetings as well as for social and recreational purposes. Julian Mayne from kavaisland.com - who supplied us with a vat full of high potency Kava Kava for the event - gave a brief talk about Kava Kava.   Kava Kava Drinking:   The evening culminated with a traditional Kava Kava drinking ceremony. Mike Jay explained the origins of the ceremony then invited the audience to drink from a vat of Kava Kava specially flown in from the South Pacific.   Related Links: John Frum Homepage Kava Introduction kavaisland.com   top