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, I do have another photo with registration number 2018_18290_1, please take it and tell us what it is Mr. [anonymous]. R2: This is Sime I: How do you call it in Maasai? R2: Arabanga and this one is Alalemu or Arabanga I: Arabanga means a Sime? R2: Eeeeh! I: And Alalemu? R2: This is Arabanga and this is its cover I: How do you call a shieth in Maasai? R2: Enjahuru I: What was its work specifically? R2: It is to protect a Sime from cut someone I: What was the Sime used for? R2: It has so many jobs, you can often find a thorn tree and cut it, you can also find a stick and cut with it, if you do not have a sword, you can use a sime, which is an alternative of a sword. I: Okay, in these places of Lushoto, where can I get a Sime like this one? R2: Here in Bwiko are so many I: Bwiko? R2: Eeeh! In Mkomazi there is a Wednesday market, also in Mombo you can also get it I: Who have been making these? R3: Many of them like the Arusha have been bringing some business for us to buy R2: I can also make this I: Okay, what are you using to make it Mr. [anonymous], please tell us? R2: It has been used by using a machine, for example I reduced its wide and then sharpen it by a sharpener to make this Sime I: So, what is the kind of iron which has been used here? R2: It is just a sword which has been used in cutting it in to two parts, as work which may also be perfomed by using an electric saw I: A sword? R2: Eeeh! It is sword I: Then what is this on its handle? R2: There you break the tree into two parts and insert a piece of tree eeeh! This is a tree that you can also decide to remove, so it is a tree that has been cut in two, leaving the middle part with some nails. R3: As you can see it there is something like a leather which covered it, this is a cow’s tail, it is the one which is being used in making it I: The cows’ tail? R3: Yes, you instert it to make it stronger, even if you cut a tree with it cannot break because it is steel I: So, you can use any kind of tree to instert it? R2: Eeeh! You can put in it I: What are the materials for its cover? R3: Cow’s and gots I: Why gots and cows’ leather? R2: It will be strong, but the sheep leather is very soft and lighter, which gets torn easily, but the goat and cow leather are good because they are very strong compared to the sheep leather. I: So, you may opt for the goat’s leather if you don’t have a cow’s leather? R2: Eeeeh! The got leather us not good compared to the cow’s leather I: Okay, what kind of strings have you been using in sewing it? R2: We have been using some nailyon strings which have been obtained from the nylon bags to sew it by a needle I: So, untill to date they still make these Mr. [anonymous] R2: I can make it without any problem I: If I like to have it, how much are you going to charge me Mr. [anonymous]? R2: If you want this, it will cost you much I: How much? R2: I will sell it to you for seventy thousand I: Okay, was it being used only with the youth? R2: I also have it in my home eeeh! I: The womens are not allowed to use it? R2: Commonly it the men who use it, the women are strictly not permitted to use it, it is only the men I: The women don’t use Sime? R: Eeeeh! I: Why they dont use it? R2: The women are supposed to be at home and these are the weapons for those who go into the bush and especially when walking during the dark hours, to protect you in the times of facing the dangerous animals or pochers for you to fight with them. I: Okay, so, the women are strictly not allowed to touch it? R2: Yes I: In the traditions and customs of the Maasai, will you be in trouble if you don’t have a Sime? R2: There is no problem if you don’t have it, it is not necessary I: It is not necessary? R2: It is somebody love, but it is not such much important to have it I: Is there anykind of status in the traditions and customs of the Maasai community in grabbing or wrapping the sime on your waist? R2: It is not such much necessary, but it looks good for the youth to have a sime, so it is common for the youth to have a sime, because it is a weapon also it looks great to have it wrapped on your waist.

source: Amani-Stade Project / Massai Field Research 2023 / Interview No. 02
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R1-3: Anonymous

I: Fine, I have another photo registered with the number 2018_18290_1, number 1 welcome. R1: This is a ‘Sime’ or ‘Alalemu’, and one is its sheath that he puts the ‘Enchashuu’, and this is his rope for tying the ‘Engene’ and the Sime, i am trying to show the one i have on my waist, it has many functions, for instance you move your livestock to ‘Orijoo’ or to a new boma, you use it to make the boma for cutting branches and making the boma, secondly if you find food like meat you also use it for cutting, so those are its functions, and the making of the sheath it is not made anyhow hence there is a kind of tree called ‘Olitimaroi’, they carve the stick to this side to make the size of the Sime then you find a raw cowhide and start sewing to the Sime to make the sheath. I: What kind of metal is used to make it? R2: This was the sharp part of the spear which was being made from the long and thin Sime of which was being used when they wanted to fight from a bit far, our fellow of the past used Sime to make it, you could find that the spear handle is here but its knife is there far ahead, so the fighter used it could hit you with it without missing, so it was those who used to make some swords and Sime or sometimes it was being made from an iron bar, which was being hit until it become like this I: Fine, and this is its handle? R2: The handle is from the tree as they mentioned that it was cut and carved then it is let to dry, it is then made thin and taking the size of the long Sime and by using a raw cowhide it is sewn and poured with hot water, finally they paint with red color. I: And the sheath is ready? R2: Yes. I: This handle is for holding? R2: On the handle there are some holes, they cut some pieces of sticks and put with nails then they take the thin part of the tails cow, they remove the skin and wear it on and tie with thread then it is let to dry, after it has dried, they remove it and cut this side and well tied then ready to start using it. I: Who were doing this work? R3: This work is for men only; women don’t know about this. I: They are men from what age? R3: If he becomes a young man and circumcised, he must be given a ‘Sime’ by his father, but nowadays they don’t make them, but they buy them from the market already made with sheath, and they can even make their own sheath hence buying the Sime only. I: Are Sime still made and available at your place here, number 3 tell us? R3: I don't know about these thin ones, but they are available to the Kenyans because they like using them, and my son can make a Sime like this and even the elders can make them, but they cannot hit the metal. I: They don’t have the power? R3: They have no strength. I: For instance, if a Sime like this is brought to the market, how much can it be sold? R3: A Sime like this can be sold at 20,000/= or 25,000/=, hence it depends on the seller. I: Fine. R3: Even if you go to the market, you will them.

source: Amani-Stade Project / Massai Field Research 2023 / Interview No.08
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R1-3: Anonymous