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: Okay fine thanks, I have another photo registered with the number 2018_18284_1, Mr. [anonymous] hold it and remind me the name of that thing? R1: This is a horn bottle for carrying gunpowder called ‘esekekwa engiteni’, ‘engiteni’ is a cow. I: So, it's a cow horn? R1: Yes, a horn of a cow, it is made like a bottle, and I can see it is completely tied with a belt, the belt is for carrying it like this carrying the gunpowder only and not for other uses. I: Were the Maasai community also using gunpowder? R1: Yes, those living in Handeni were using it, so some of the people from here after knowing there is this thing called gun, some of them went to get it and brought it here. I: Okay, ‘esekekwe engenti’? R1: Yes, we saw it but neither we or our father did not live in Handeni, our grandfather lived in Handeni and that’s why they knew something like this. I: Have you ever seen it with your naked eyes? R1: Yes, I saw it with my naked eyes. I: So, it is made of horns and what else? R1: Horn and skin. I: Skin? R1: Yes. I: A skin from what animal? R1: We normally use cowhide. I: Because it is hard? R1: Yes, the cowhide, they are the ones we have and there is no other skin, we have cows, goats, and sheep but the hardest skin is the cowhide, when it is made it lasts longer. I: So, it was for carrying gunpowder only? R1: Yes, but there is another one like this that carries snuff, but it is small and also made of horn and skin. I: So, if it is like that it is for gunpowder? R1: Yes, if it is big like this, it is for carrying gunpowder and the small one for carrying snuff, so that was its use. R2: It is like this one, it was made for feeding fat to the Maasai children, have you ever heard of Maasai children being fed fat? I: The ghee? R2: But it is a raw ghee, it is not boiled but shaken to remove butter, it was stored in a horn like this. I: It was also made in the same way? R2: Yes, it stores food of a 1-year-old baby and above, so it was used to store fat. I: So, the production is the same, but the use is the difference? R2: Yes, they are different in use but if the child's item wouldn’t have the belt, then it would be similar like this. I: So, what has made the difference is the belt? R2: Yes, it is the belt. I: The ‘esikweka engiteni’? R2: Yes, the ‘esikweka engiteni’. I: Okay fine, so it was for carrying gunpowder or putting baby fat? R2: Yes, for the babies who suckle and also used for putting snuff. I: So, it was used keep fat of children from what age? R2: When he is 3 years old, he can be given. I: And at that time, he is suckling too? R2: Yes, he is sucking. I: And what is the function of that fat? R2: It improved the child’s health, it was like food for the child because there was no porridge or whatever, so it is him and his mother's milk, he was fed by his mother with her finger until he was completely satisfied. I: That was a cow's butter? R2: Yes, the cow's butter, it is milked and then curdled, shaken, and the butter is isolated, it becomes white, and the child is fed. I: Okay fine, is the esekekwa currently still in use? R1: Currently it is not in use. I: Why is it not in currently in use? R1: Things are now many they have been replaced, Chinese are bringing in artificial ‘esekekwa’ hahaha, they are made special, so people have now forgotten their traditional, hence buying the special ones. I: Mr. [anonymous], so the Chinese are destroying the tradition? R2: They are really destroying the tradition, there was hot pot in the past but now they have brought their hot pots of containers to put many things, hence now the traditional ones have disappeared, the Maasai used to keep their meat in a container and preserved for 6 good months and it was still good, but now they have brought a fridge. I: Now that one is no more useful, hahaha? R2: Yes, it is useless, they have destroyed. I: So, this one for carrying gunpowder, was it carried by men or women in your Maasai community? R2: By men. I: Of which age? R2: Any person who had the power to use a gun, it does not matter whether he is old or young, he was a person of any age who had power and strength to use this tool in our society. I: Okay fine, who made them, were they the women or the men? R2: The men. I: They also don’t have a specific age? R2: They didn't have a specific age; it was based on your skills. I: So, it was a cow's horn and its skin? R2: Yes, they were making it and it was really a craft.

source: Amani-Stade Project / Massai Field Research 2023 / Interview No. 04
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R1, R2: Anonymous