A Koi board is a stylised carved representation of ancestors. It’s often made out of wood, as it’s believed each tree has a spirit and the koi is designed with the spirits within.

In this episode, we hear from the ancestral spirit of a Koi board which once occupied the spiritual centre of its community in the Purari Delta region of Papua New Guinea. It tells the story of its creation, function and current state of mind having been displaced for over a century.

On this sonic museum tour, Hanna Adan, with the assistance of experts, explores the fascinating spiritual landscape of the object’s origin, the role of Christian missionaries in colonisation and asks - what is the Museum’s duty towards objects of spiritual significance when the cultures of the source communities have drastically changed?

Produced and Presented by Hanna Adan
With story by George Bailey
Assistant Producer and Editor: Kwaku Dapaah-Danquah
Researcher: Seyi Bolarin
Starring Emmanuel Tipi
Contributors: Joshua Bell, Sarah Byrne and Anna Johnstone
Production Mentors: Jane Thurlow and Corinna Jones
Sound Designer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter
Tech Producer: Duncan Hannant
Executive Producers: Khaliq Meer & Leanne Alie
Commissioned for BBC Sounds Audio Lab by Khaliq Meer
Artwork by Joshua Obeng-Boateng