HFU HF Underground

Loggings => Shortwave Broadcast => Topic started by: Ron - Calif. on February 13, 2024, 1258 UTC

Title: Vanuatu - John Frum Festival (mythical American figure)
Post by: Ron - Calif. on February 13, 2024, 1258 UTC

VANUATU. 7260, Radio Vanuatu, 0650+ UT, Feb 13. Exceptionally good reception; some highlights:

0650 & 0656: The often heard musical ID; "Radio Vanuatu . . Kingdom of Tonga . . Solomon Islands . . Voice of
Papua New Guinea . . Radio Vanuatu, Vois Blong Yumi."

0657: Series of PSA, ads, promos.

0658: Unique promo in English for the "John Frum Festival," held on Tanna Island, in Lamakara Village. On-line search
provides the following interesting info:

"John Frum . . is a mythical figure associated with cargo cults on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu. He is often depicted as
an American World War II serviceman who will bring wealth and prosperity to the people if they follow him. . . Currently,
only the village of Lamakara is faithful to the John Frum faith on the island of Tanna. . . In 1957, a leader of the John Frum
movement, Nakomaha, created the 'Tanna Army', a non-violent ritualistic society that organised military-style parades
of men with faces painted in ritual colours and wearing white T-shirts with the letters 'T-A USA' (Tanna Army USA).
This parade takes place every year on February 15, the date on which followers believe John Frum will return, and
which is observed as "John Frum Day" in Vanuatu. . ." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Frum .

My audio promo/weather/promo - https://app.box.com/s/ve0481tae7u4l4dlsvwrp18rgj5f7xsx .

0700-0711: "News bulletin" in Bislama (news/sports/weather).

0712+: Nice Island music.

Ron
Asilomar State Beach, Calif. (near Monterey)
Etón E1, external antenna: 30m long wire