Sir Humphry meets the natives

FIVE tribesmen from the South Pacific Island of Tanna, one of the most southerly islands of the nation of Vanuatu, visited Britain recently to observe the country's tribes — working class, middle class and upper class — and Channel 4 documentary makers followed as they visited three families including Sir Humphry Wakefield at Chillingham Castle.
In Meet the Natives the tribesmen joined in many modern rituals in British culture, be it enjoying fast food, karaoke, fox-hunting or housework.Australian-based anthropologist Kirk Huffman, a consultant on the project said: "For too many centuries the 'White Man' has been sticking his long nose into societies all around the world. "It is about time some of these societies be given an opportunity to look at 'us' — to turn the cultural telescope around, so to speak."Since the 1960s I have had the privilege of living or working with traditional societies in many areas of the world, but particularly in Vanuatu. "I am perpetually impressed by the complexity and sophistication of these numerous cultures that many white people still unfortunately continue to class as 'primitive' and I have learnt more from them about what it means to be human than from all my years spent at Oxbridge".Many people from the traditional 'kastom' villages in Tanna believe that England and Tanna were once part of the same land, and that the English are their lost brothers. They are concerned that we have strayed from the path which leads to happiness, and they have a point: Vanuatu was recently declared the happiest country on earth by a New Economics Foundation/Friends of the Earth survey. Great Britain came 108th.In programme one, the ambassadors travel to Norfolk to stay with Simon and Bobbie at their farmhouse B&B. They learn about English pig-farming, attend a life-sculpting class and join in the ritual Friday night activities at the local pub. Many of the things they see they find very strange, but then they meet Ian, a local rabbit hunter, who takes them ferreting. His connection to life and nature greatly impresses the ambassadors.In programme two the islanders head off to stay with Manchester couple Julie and Ray for a taste of British urban life. Visiting their first British city is an exciting and eye opening experience for the
islanders but they are saddened to discover how many homeless people are living on the streets. How, they ask, is it possible for a city with so much wealth to contain people with no home or family to shelter them?And finally, the tribesmen make their way to Northumberland to stay at Chillingham Castle as the guests of Sir Humphry and Lady Wakefield, witnessing the upper classes at work and play in this episode which will be shown on Thursday, October 11."I invited the local gentry to meet them," explained Sir Humphry. "Everyone was in black tie and at first it was rather awkward. Then I said to Chief Yapa, 'This is our local tribe'. "They sit in little groups and talk about the weather and horses'."Suddenly these two tribes, with no common language, came together. It was wonderful."I hope the islanders aren't changed by the visit. Long may they go on unchanged and undisturbed."
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