Editing Modekngei (section)

==History==

The origins of Modekngei are unknown, but one hypothesis purports that Modekngei began as a form of nonviolent resistance to the Japanese occupation of Palau.<ref name=":0" /> By amalgamating native [[animistic]] and [[Christianity|Christian]] beliefs in hymns (''keskes''), the islanders may have been better able to preserve and transmit their traditions.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fadiman |first1=Maria |last2=Thomas |first2=Michael |last3=Morei |first3=Olympia |last4=Kitalong |first4=Ann |last5=Hanser |first5=Sholeh |title=Globalization and Tradition in Palau: Case Study of the Syncretic Omengat (First Child Birth) and Ngasech Ceremonies |url=https://journals.flvc.org/flgeog/article/view/107014 |journal=The Florida Geographer |volume=50 |date=2018}}</ref>

A common story in [[Ngatpang]] is that the religion developed from the efforts of Christian missionaries in Palau who hoped to convert the islanders. After visiting [[Ibobang]], a village in Ngatpang where most of the residents practice Modekngei, the missionaries were so impressed by the villagers' commitment to their customs that they allowed the [[Palauans]] to keep their goddess while still practicing Christianity.