"Wednesday, Sept. 6, 1905 [underlined] [...] – After my last request, [?] exhibition goods from Zanzibar arrived, whereby I came into possession of some clay objects, which I [?] & [?]: 1. Tobacco pipe, beautifully decorated black head (3 Rup) [drawing] 2. likewise. A [?] must have served as a model (3 Rup.) [drawing] 3. Ashtray (2 Rp). [drawing] 4. N* [1] [drawing] 5. Idol (1 Rup.) [drawing]" [translation] [1] The N-word (N*) is a highly racist foreign term for Black people. The term arose in connection with “race” theories and is closely linked with the history of slavery and colonialism. In the transcription of original sources it was not adopted, but marked as a racist derogatory, offensive term.

"28. Tobacco pipe, black clay / Amani, 6 Sept. 1905 = 3 Rp. / TB [diary]. 45.95 (as above!)" ["such items are made at Mission Mlalo, Bought in Zanzibar."] [translation]

source: Museen Stade, r 2018 / 18566
author: Karl Braun

In 1934, the former director of the Biological Imperial Institute for Agriculture and Forestry (Biologische Reichsanstalt für Land- und Forstwirtschaft) Karl Braun (1870–1935) gave the so-called “Kolonialsammlung Braun” (Colonial Collection Braun) to the Hanseatic City of Stade, or rather its representative, the then mayor Hans Arthur Meyer (1884–1961). See the file „Transfer of a colonial collection from the senior government councillor Professor Dr. Karl Braun in Stade to the City of Stade” („Überlassung einer Kolonialsammlung vom Oberregierungsrat Professor Dr. Karl Braun in Stade an die Stadt Stade") at the Lower Saxony State Archives Stade (Niedersächsischen Landesarchiv Standort Stade).

source: Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv Standort Stade, Dep. 10 Nr. 03025

In 1997, the then city archivist Jürgen Bohmbach concludes a permanent loan agreement with the Museum Society Stade (Museumsverein Stade e.V.), for which the then director Gerd Mettjes signs. Thereafter, the collection from Karl Braun is transferred to the care of the Museum Society Stade (Museumsverein Stade e.V.).

source: Museen Stade, Vereinbarung Leihgabe "Brauns'sche Kolonialsammlung"

I: OK, thanks. Let's move on to another photo. Here I have another photo registered as 2018_18472_1. Can you identify what it is? R: It looks similar to the previous one, but it's more decorated. You can see there's a place to hold it here. There's no rope here; a person can put their finger in here. You can see there's a hole. It was decorated to attract customers. But this part for putting tobacco is separate. I see this part up here is for putting charcoal. I: So, this part is for putting charcoal? R: This is where the charcoal goes and where you hold it. I: I think, among these vikos, this one is the one you can see here. R: The problem here is that it's lying on its side. How will the charcoal stay in place like this? I: Maybe it's just the design. R: That was just their design. I: It looks like there is a human face. R: This one was made to look like a gun trigger. I: It was decorated with a human face, and the '‘Kiko’' looks like a gun. What kind of people do you think it was intended to be sold to? R: It was made to be sold to rich people. I: During the period of the missionaries, who do you think they were targeting? R: This was intended for use by white people. Here is the head where you would put charcoal and tobacco. This head was decorated, but it's still the same. It was decorated to be sold at a high price. I: Looking at it, what do you think it's made of? R: I think the white people made this one. We Africans can't make it like this because there are so many decorations. We do decorate, but not like this. The white people brought it to the Africans to sell. I: If you look at it carefully, do you think it is mpingo or clay, as you said? R: They carved this tree and decorated it like this. There are certain objects used to make it attractive. You hold it here, put a finger in here and pull it like this. When you put the charcoal in here, the '‘Kiko’' is raised up. I: When smoking, must a person lie down a bit? R: No, it was their design. A person cannot smoke while lying down. I: If it were brought to market to sell and met someone who uses the '‘Kiko’', how much could it be sold for? R: It could sell for about fifteen thousand because it is more elaborately decorated.

source: Amani-Stade Project / Mlalo Field Research, Interview No. 05
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R: Anonymous