When Prince Philip tragically died aged 99, the British people lost a central figure in the monarchy. But for the inhabitants of Tanna, one of the islands of Vanuatu, it is a real “god” that they have lost. Since his visit to these lands in 1974, the Duke of Edinburgh was worshiped by the villagers: he is considered a deity associated with the spirits of the Yasur volcano.
If he was the husband of Elizabeth II as well as a major figure for the British people, Prince Philip was also considered a demigod by the people of Tanna, one of the eighty islands of Vanuatu. Since his visit to this volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean in 1974, the villagers were convinced that they had found the son of the god of Tanna in the person of the Duke of Edinburgh. According to local legend, a spirit dressed in white is said to have emerged from an active volcanoholding an object that has not been officially identified and which could be reminiscent of a knife, a symbol of technology.
The myth says that he then flew to a distant land to marry a queen. For the inhabitants of Yaohnanen and Yakel, Prince Philip would therefore embody this deity associated with the spirits of the Yasur volcano. Visibly open to the idea of lending himself “to the game”, the duke would have participated in drinking rituals of kava, a drink made from the root of a local plant. If he never spoke about the devotion that the people of Vanuatu had for him, perhaps he felt a sense of pride in being considered a god in the eyes of a people.
Latest news
After Prince Philip, the people of Tanna are looking for a new messiah
Prince Philip sent them several autographed letters and photographs of him, now cherished and revered by the villagers. In return, the members of this tribe offered him traditional gifts, including a ceremonial staff. For one of the leaders, the Duke’s death does not mean the end of his cult. “Prince Philip’s spirit has left his body, but he lives on”he had declared before being supported by another inhabitant of the village: “He’s dead, but there’s a big family that will carry his legacy. Look at all the pictures we have of him here. He’s a good man.”. Now that the Duke of Edinburgh is no more, the tribe would like let another prince take his place. Who better than Charles, his son and heir to the throne? Chef Malia is already ready to open the doors to him: “If Prince Charles ever agrees to come, then he needs to come here so we can sit together and talk.”. It only remains to be seen whether Prince Charles is interested in becoming the new “messiah” of the island of Tanna.
A true jack-of-all-trades, Marjorie can both talk about the royal family and the latest series… What she likes is telling facts, deciphering the smallest details…