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, thank you. Now I have another photo with registration number 2018_18272_001. Take a look and tell us what that is. R: It is a basket. I: A basket? R: Eeeeh! I: What is it called in Sambaa? R: “ngahu” I: „ngahu“? R: Eeeeh! Hahahaah! I: Hahaahhaah! People of which culture use „ngahu“? R: The people from Tanga I: From which communities, can you mention them? R: This basket is used by the Digo, Sambaa, Bondei, Zigua I: How is it used? R: Sometimes when you go to the milling machine, you put your maize or dried cassava in it. Or when women go to visit a new mother—we used to call it ushashi—every woman had to carry her own basket. I: Why was it necessary for every woman to carry a basket when visiting a woman who gave birth? R: It was our tradition. I: A tradition? R: Eeeeh! I: So, you couldn't go without a basket? R: Nowadays someone just has their backpack with a plastic bag of flour and soap. No one cares about baskets. I: Back then, what was the status of carrying a basket when visiting a new mother? R: If you arrived with a basket, you were welcomed. If not, you were disrespected. So, you had to carry it. I: So, it gave you status? R: A basket. I: Who commonly carried the basket? R: The Sambaa. I: Of what gender? R: The Bondei, Zigua, and Sambaa from Lushoto. I: Male or female? R: Female. I: From what age, or was it for everyone? R: Anyone could carry. I: Age didn’t matter? R: No. If you were going on a journey, you had to have a basket. In the past, you even placed an envelope inside. When it was opened—it meant joy because a guest had arrived. I: Do you think „ngahu“ still has relevance today? R: Yes, eeeh! I: Will it reach a time when „ngahu“ will no longer be used? R: For future generations, I don’t think it will retain its status. I: Why? R: They are going with modern times. They have their own types of baskets. I: What kind? R: Nylon ones. I: Aaaaah! Nylon baskets? R: Eeeeh! I: So, traditional ones are disappearing? R: They are disappearing. I: To use „ngahu“, what else did you need? R: Just the basket was enough. I: Nothing else? R: You put gifts inside the basket. I: So it was mainly used to visit new mothers? R: Even on a journey, or visiting a sick person—you carried a basket with gifts. I: Are these kinds of baskets still being made today? R: The Zigua still make them. I: In Handeni? R: Eeeeh! I: Who makes them—what gender and age? R: Nowadays, many people are creative—even young girls make and sell them. I: So now it’s not age-specific? R: No. I: Not gender-specific either? R: No. I: Back in the day, who made the baskets? R: Only men. I: Of what age? R: From thirty years and above. I: Do you know what materials were used? R: There is minyaa. I: What is that? R: It’s ukindu. I: Ukindu? R: Yes, and another one I don’t know the name. I: Ukindu or minyaa? R: Some call it ukindu, others bag of mabamba. I: What else, just ukindu and minyaa? R: Just those. I: Have the materials changed over the years? R: Eeeeh! They change. I: What’s being used now? R: The ukindu ones, maybe I’ll show you the style. I: Will you show me later? Are they still using ukindu? R: Yes. I: No other materials? R: Baskets are made from ukindu and makawa. I: Okay. R: That’s how they’re made. I: How much would one cost in modern markets? R: Starting from five thousand and above. I: Why that price? R: They’re not easily available, so the cost is higher

source: Amani-Stade Project / Amani Field Research 2023, Interview No. 6
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R: Anonymous