See the modern world through the eyes of one tribe

Media News

New Delhi, December 10, 2009

What happens when two extreme cultures come face to face with each other? What happens when five men, from a remote tribal island in the South Pacific, used to wearing nothing more than a straw covering around their waist, leave their island and visit two extremely different societies, the UK and the USA, for the first time to take a closer look at their way of life? The unexpected takes control!

This holiday season, National Geographic Channel presents a delightful new show, ‘Meet the Natives’, Friday nights @ 9. This eight part series promises to turn anthropology on its head as Chief Yapa, Joel, Posen, Albi and Jimmy Joseph (JJ) embark on an epic tour of the UK to look at the English ‘working class’; while Chief Mangau, Kamua, Kuai, Sam and Namus go on a peace tour to the USA.

For years anthropologists have travelled to the South Pacific to live with the local tribesmen and observe their traditional way of life. But in ‘Meet the Natives’, traditional anthropology is given a new meaning, as tribesmen from the South Pacific island of Tanna - one of the most southerly islands of the nation of Vanuatu - travel 10,000 miles from their ‘Kastam’ village to observe the natives of strange and exotic lands popularly known as Britain and America.

The tribesmen come from a village that decided back in the 1960s to retain their traditional way of life, rather than follow the increasingly westernized paths of others. The series will follow their journey and their observations about the way the British and American societies function, as they stay with different families.

The first three episodes of Meet the Natives take place in the U.K. and the rest of the action unfolds in the U.S.A. Viewers get to witness how men, unfamiliar with the modern world, react to some of the more unique and idiosyncratic parts of these Western cultures - from fox hunting with fake foxes to a night out at the local pub to farm practices such as medicating cattle and artificially inseminating pigs. The men’s observations are sometimes humorous, at other times they offer insightful critiques on modern society.

Log on to www.natgeotv.co.in to view Meet the Natives videos, photo-gallery, set programme reminders and much more.

Meet the Natives (UK) - Episode 1: December 11 @ 9 pm

In this episode, the narrator introduces the viewers to the tropical island of Tanna, in the middle of the South Pacific. The narrator informs the audience that this story is about the time, when Chief Yapa, the head of the community; Joel, the finest doctor of the community; Hosen, an expert pig farmer; Albi, their greatest dancer and Jimmy Joseph, who is the narrator, went to the other side of the planet to make a film about a strange and exotic land named England. Jimmy narrates the quality of life in his village and expresses his excitement to visit the ‘other side of the planet. As they reach England, they are greeted by a Bobby Watton and Simon. As Bobby explains the culture, the food and the life of England to these natives, life takes a complete turn for them as they realise the dichotomies that exist in the two worlds.

Meet the Natives (UK) - Episode 2: December 18 @ 9 pm

In the second episode, the ambassadors travel to Manchester for a taste of British urban life with a couple called Julie and Ray. Visiting their first British city is an exciting and eye-opening experience for the islanders but they are saddened to see homeless people living on the streets. How, they ask, can a city with so much wealth contain people with no home or family to shelter them? All five thoroughly enjoy their time with the family and are eager to join in the everyday rituals of urban living. Finally, the tribesmen head off to Northumberland to stay at Chillingham Castle as the guests of Sir Humphry Wakefield. Now they are hot on the heels of the man they have come to England to meet, the man they believe is the son of their God: Prince Philip.

Meet the Natives (UK) - Episode 3: December 25 @ 9 pm

In the final UK episode, the ambassadors travel to Northumberland to stay at Chillingham Castle, and then head further north to the Old Hebrides. When Captain Cook first discovered Tanna, he named the islands ‘The New Hebrides’, because they reminded him of the islands of Scotland. The five ambassadors are the first Tannese explorers to visit the Old Hebrides, and are very proud of this. After a run-in with some snow, they head to London, which they find full of people who do not smile and seem to be rushing everywhere. But in London a letter is given to them, inviting them to Windsor to meet The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip. For the five ambassadors, this is the fulfilment of all their hopes. While the camera crew wait outside, they are invited into Prince Philip's personal reception room to meet him. Armed with his reply to the message the chiefs of Tanna gave them, the five head home to a rapturous reception.

Meet the Natives (USA) - Episode 4: January 8 @ 9 pm

After five flights and a journey across the Pacific Ocean, the new set of five men from Tanna, which include Chief Mangau, Kamua, Sam, Kuai and Namus, reach their destination: Montana. Spending the week with a cattle ranching family, they are overwhelmed by their home, which comes complete with an elk head displayed on the wall. The men join in everything, from cooking pancakes for breakfast and hunting deer to branding some of the cowboy family’s 5,000 cattle. The men share a beer and a laugh at the local bar, basking in the attention of the local ladies. After a few days, they feel great love for these Americans, who are deeply touched by their visitors, but the Tanna men realize that unlike back home, farming here is driven by something else: money.

Meet the Natives (USA) - Episode 5: January 15 @ 9 pm

Our five tribesmen from Tanna say tearful goodbyes to the Montana cowboys and take their peace mission on to New York. The tribesmen dine at Sardi's, meet a happy bathroom attendant, find that the Metropolitan Museum has some totems belonging to their neighbours back home in the South Pacific, learn how to skateboard and see the inside of one of America's most sacred sites - the New York Stock Exchange. Chief Mangau is very happy to find that Bunny is not only a kind hostess but she also knows Barack Obama. Can Bunny help Chief meet the right dignitaries and deliver his urgent message of peace on behalf of the people of Tanna?

Meet the Natives (USA) - Episode 6: January 22 @ 9 pm

The five Tanna ambassadors travel to meet the people of ‘Middle America’ to experience how average Americans live. A visit to the pet store reveals a number of odd pets kept by the Americans, such as rats, and the men find it even more bizarre to see clothing for dogs. On the Thanksgiving holiday, they join in with all the seasonal rituals: everything from cooking the ‘big chicken’ and watching football on TV to waving to a traditional procession called the Santa Parade and helping to build a plastic tree inside the house.

Meet the Natives (USA) - Episode 7: January 29 @ 9 pm

Our five ambassadors have arrived in California, the guests of the Orange County tribe. They are living with Rand and Rosemary Sperry and their six grown up children. Here, the men can take their clothes off, swim and smoke cigars in the sun. It isn't so different from being at home. The OC tribe rituals emphasize personal cleanliness and so Katie takes everyone to a spa. The two tribes commune in a hot water bath and then cover their skin with red mud to bake in a dry steam sauna. But the most extraordinary ritual of all is a special youth ceremony called ‘the botox party’.

Meet the Natives (USA) - Episode 8: February 5 @ 9 pm

Arriving in Georgia to stay with their last family, the five men from Tanna are concerned about finding Tom Navy, who visited their island during World War II and helped establish peace among the tribes on their island. At Fort Stewart Army Base, the five are excited to meet soldiers but scared at the prospect of war. But the five are moved by the emotional reunion of soldiers with their families. The farewell dinner brings a surprise presentation of medals to the Chief for his father’s assistance to the soldiers in World War II. Travelling to Washington, D.C. in search of signs for Tom Navy, the men are invited to meet with the former U.S. Secretary of State General, Colin Powell to discuss Tom Navy’s mission of peace. Having completed their own mission to share Tom Navy’s words of peace, the men return to Tanna and shed their shirts and ties for the comfort of their traditional nambas (penis covers made of grass).

For further details, please contact:

Genesis Burson-Marsteller

Priyam Chaturvedi

Mobile: 09999690904

E-mail: priyam.chaturvedi@bm.com