Ethnographic Imaginings

Acclaimed poets John Agard, Grace Nichols & Imtiaz Dharker were commissioned to write new poems exploring and bringing to life the wealth of intriguing artefacts on display in the amazing Durbar Hall.  A free booklet of the poems is available from the Museum.  If you'd like a copy, please email museum@hastings.gov.uk.

Click on the pictures to hear the poets read their work.

  • Hamsa bird
    Hamsa Bird

    Hamsa Bird read by Grace Nichols Offering Vessel ...

    play Hamsa Bird audio file
  • Laksmi figure
    Laksmi

    Laksmi by Grace Nichols Laksmi - Southern India ...

    play Laksmi audio file
  • Malagan mask
    Malagan Mask

    Malagan Mask At Hastings Museum by Grace Nichols ...

    play Malagan Mask audio file
  • ceremonial mask
    Ceremony

    Ceremony read by Imtiaz Dharker Malagan Mask - ...

    play Ceremony audio file
  • heart shaped thumb ring
    Thumb Ring

    Thumb Ring by Imtiaz Dharker Thumb Ring - India ...

    play Thumb Ring audio file
  • jigsaw puzzle
    Jigsaw Puzzle

    The Missing Piece by Imtiaz Dharker Jigsaw Puzzle ...

    play Jigsaw Puzzle audio file
  • hand shape in ceramic
    Amulet - Hand of Fatima

    Leaving Fingerprints by Imtiaz Dharker Amulet - ...

    play Amulet - Hand of Fatima audio file
  • sea shell with hole in it
    War Horn - Palau Islands

    How It Started in Hastings Museum by Imtiaz ...

    play War Horn - Palau Islands audio file
  • Japanese figure riding a fish
    Figure of Kinko Sennin

    From Kinko Sennin to 1066 read by John Agard ...

    play Figure of Kinko Sennin audio file
  • wooden bat and woth ball on stand
    Cricket Bat and Ball

    Bat and Ball read by John Agard Cricket Ball - ...

    play Cricket Bat and Ball audio file
  • carved buddah figure sitting on elephants
    Carved Buddha - India 19th century

    A Carved Buddha On A Four-Elephant Throne read by ...

    play Carved Buddha - India 19th century audio file
  • The Brassey family
    The Brasseys

    The Brasseys read by John Agard The Brassey ...

    play The Brasseys audio file
  • monkey figure
    Monkey Effigy

    Collected read by John Agard Monkey Effigy - ...

    play Monkey Effigy audio file
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