Tribal communities in Vanuatu mourns Prince Philip's death

As Britain mourns Prince Philip's death, they are also joined by a tribal community on a Pacific island half a world away.

For decades, two villages on the island of Tanna have admired the Duke of Edinburgh as a god-like spiritual figure. A formal grieving period is now underway, and tribespeople gathers on Monday in a ceremony to remember Prince Philip.

"The connection between the characters on the island of Tanna and the English characters is very strong... We are posting sympathy letters to the royal family and the people of England," said tribal leader Chief Yapa, as per the Reuters news agency.

An extraordinary man who was living an amazing experience : For the next few weeks, villagers will regularly meet to conduct rites for the Duke, who is seen as a "recycled descendant of a very powerful as well as spirit or god that lives on one of their bodies", says anthropologist Kirk Huffman who has studied the tribes since the 1970s.

They will likely conduct a formal party, hold a parade, and display memorabilia of Prince Philip, while the men will drink kava, a ritual drink made from the roots of the kava plant.

Also read: Prince Philip peacefully died this morning at Windsor Castle

This will end with an "important gathering" as a final act of sorrow. "There will be a great deal about wealth on display", which would mean yams and kava plants, says Vanuatu-based writer Dan McGarry.

"And also pigs, because they are a primary source of protein. I would expect numerous pigs to be killed for the ceremonial event."

Prince Philip devotees prepare kava roots to be drunk at an upcoming mourning ceremony to take place for the late British monarch who passed away Friday at age 99, in Yaohnanen village, Tanna island, Vanuatu. Over the weekend, villagers in Yaohnanen prepared kava roots for a mourning ceremony.