Cargo cult facts for kids
A cargo cult is a type of religion found mostly in places like Melanesia and New Guinea. These religions started when people from tribal societies first met Westerners. When this happened, the local people saw many new things they had never seen before. These included items like radios, airplanes, and other manufactured goods. They called these goods "cargo."
The tribal people did not understand how these items were made or how they worked. They saw that the Westerners received these goods regularly. Because of this, they believed that the cargo was sent by spirits or their own ancestors. They thought the Westerners were somehow stopping the cargo from reaching them.
What Are Cargo Cults?
People in cargo cults often try to copy the actions they saw Westerners do. They hope that by doing this, spirits will send them more cargo. For example, they might build fake airstrips or docks. They might also pretend to be soldiers or workers, marching in parades or wearing uniforms. They believe these actions will make the cargo arrive for them.
Why Did They Start?
Cargo cults began during the time of colonialism. This was when powerful countries from Europe took control of lands far away. When these colonial powers arrived, they met many societies that had less advanced technology. The first cargo cults were seen in places like New Guinea and other islands in the Pacific Ocean.
The people in these cults believed that the cargo was meant for them. They thought their own gods or ancestors had created these goods. They felt that the foreigners had somehow taken their rightful cargo. Because of this belief, the rituals and efforts of cargo cults are often aimed at getting more goods for themselves and less for the foreigners.
An Example: Tanna Island
On the island of Tanna in Vanuatu, some cult members even worship Americans. This happened after World War II, when American soldiers brought many supplies and goods to the island. The local people were amazed by the amount of "cargo" the Americans had. They believed these Americans were special beings who could bring them wealth.
Related Pages
- Vailala Madness - a cargo cult that was active between 1919 and 1922. It might have been the first cargo cult ever written about.
- Ghost Dance - a similar movement that happened when Native Americans met European settlers in North America.
