"Monday, November 28, 1904 [underlined] Again some jewelry items [...] [?] came into my possession: 9. Masaai belt like p. 103 No. 8 but with green, white, blue & red beads & additionally a simple attached bead apron (= 1 Rupiah) 10. Masaai bracelet, made similarly to No. 9 Beads: red, white, green, dark blue, light blue. (= ½ Rupiah) 11. Masaai ear plug carved from wood & rubbed with red clay, decorated on one side. (= 10 Pesa) [Two drawings with perspective details] front side / gifted by Mrs. Oberst Kühne, see p. 111, cf. Diary 46 p. 107. 12. String instrument of the Swahili, called “zezi.” A somewhat similar illustration can be found in: Ratzel, Ethnology, Leipzig 1887, Vol. I p. 449. The so-called violin of the Wanika. The apparatus consists of a carved piece of wood on one side of which the strings are attached, while on the other [p. 105] side there is a calabash gourd serving as a resonator. The wood is decorated. (= ½ Rupiah) [Drawing] cf. Diary 52 p. 75" [translation]

source: Museum der Kulturen Basel, VI 56197, 43 (104)
author: Karl Braun

"10. Masai bracelet / beads: red, white, green, dark blue, light blue / Amani, Nov. 28, 1904 (= ½ Rp.) / TB [diary] 43,103 [sic 43,104]" [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: Okay, I do have another photo with registration number 2018_18201_1, please mama […] and […] look and tell us what is that? R1: This is wrapping rope called Engeene I: Wrapping rope of what? R1: It is just like this but is made from a leather I: So, you can wrap an Orkelaa with it? R1: Eeeeh! You can wrap an Orkelaa I: What kind of leather was it? R1: It was a cow’s leather, as you can see it is hard I: Why they used a cow’s leather, while other were being made from a sheep leather mama […]? R1: Because the sheep leather is easy to break I: So, it is because it is hard? R1: Eeeeh! This is hard as you can see how it has been sewed, it is hard eeeh! They sewed it with some strings I: It is being called Engeene? R1: Eeeeh! I: And what are those beads mama […]? R1: It was just a decoration as you can see it has different colours, some may decide to put three colours or two colours I: How much are they being sold if someone wants you to make for them? Are they still being made in the current days? R1: Eeeeh! These are being made I: So, if it is being made just like that what are you wrapping for? R1: We have been wrapping the clothes with it and then we do have another one called Engimeita which is being worn on the waist I: That is Engeene? R1: Eeeeh! Engeene

source: Amani-Stade Project / Massai Field Research 2023 / Interview No. 03
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R1: Anonymous

I: I do have another photo with registration number 2018_18201_1, please grand […] tell us what is it? R2: This is an Arkataa for the hand I: Where was it being worn? R2: On the right-hand side of the males I: The males of which age? R2: It was those youths with ‘Visinga’ I: Morani? R2: Eeeeh! Morani I: So, that was only for the males’ youths only? R2: Eeeh! Even the girls of the past times used to put on it I: On the hand? R2: Eeeh! On this hand I: On the right hand? R2: Eeeeh I: What was the meaning to put on it? R2: It is an ornament to make someone look good I: Does it still be worn? R2: Eeeh! There is another one which doesn’t be sewed on a leather, it is only being sewed with sold strings from the shop, it looks like this, but it doesn’t have some ropes I: They don’t put it on a leather? R2: No I: Why they no longer put it on a leather? R2: It is the current children who don’t want it my son, you know the world has changed compared with the past times I: So, that was mainly for the hand? R2: Eeeeh I: The right hand? R2: Eeeeh I: It was the Morani who used to put on it? R2: It was the Morani who used to put on it, this is an upper hand Arkataa I: Were all of these being made by the females as well? R2: It was the mothers/females only who made all of these, these were the females’ works I: Was it made from a rhino leather as well? R2: Eeeeh! This one has been made from a cow’s leather I: So, if you don’t have a rhinoceros leather you can make it with a cow’s leather? R2: Eeeeh I: Why they were only using the cow’s or rhinoceros leather mama […] ? Please tell us R2: That Engosokwa was even being worn by the elder on their ankle without beads, as they said it helped providing some relief of leg aches I: It helps to reduce some pain and heal? R2: Eeeeh I: So, it is a rhinoceros leather? R2: Eeeeh I: So, if it is being wrapped with a cow’s leather it doesn’t heal? R2: No, it doesn’t but this Arkataa has been made of cow’s leather I: So, currently they make it without a leather? R2: Even if you want it, but the new generation children don’t use this kind of leather, they just sew it with a string and a needle, but without leather. But if someone wants this traditional one, it can be prepared for them. I: So, it was mainly for ornament? R2: Eeeeh I: To look good? R2: Eeeh

source: Amani-Stade Project / Massai Field Research 2023 / Interview No. 05
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R2: Anonymous

I: OK, thank you, I have another photo with registration number 2018_18201_1, number one, you identified it, tell us what it is? R1: We call it Ndalama I: What does it mean by Ndalama? R1: It means that this is a leather that has been decorated with some beads. I: Which animal leather is it? R1: It was a cowhide that was sewn and worn by the Maasai males on their ankles, but not all the males, only the circumcised males, because they are already grown up and leaving childhood, in Maasai if you are uncircumcised, it means you are still a child, so it was the circumcised males who used to wear these. I: Which leg was it being worn? R1: On all the legs, it is an ornament I: So, it was only the circumcised youth who put on these? R1: Eeeeh! It was being worn by the males I: Why didn’t the females put on them? R1: The women didn't put it on because it was a symbol for the men, the women used to put iron on their legs, in the old days they used to wrap the woman's leg with iron up to here, which used to make a sound, ta, ta, ta, that was a symbol for the women. I: Is it still be used Ndalama? R1: There are some people who still use Ndalama because the Maasai community has been divided, because what I have just observed is that the Maasai in Kenya still wear them on their legs, although the Maasai here used to wear them too, but because of globalisation it has caused some changes to make it a thing that people don't like. R3: Currently they put these on, as you can see there is a huge difference, the current ones are sewn with some nylon strings, they no longer use leather, but the modern things instead eeeh! This is a nylon string used instead of leather. I: Is it still being called Ndalama? R3: Yes, Ndalama I: It was the people of which gender who used to make it? R3: The females I: From which age maybe? R3: From the age of 20 years and above, where the ones who had some skills in sewing it I: So, it was made by using some beads, how do you call beads in Maasai? Number one, please tell us R3: You know this small one we call Isayeni and there is a big one we call Orureshi, so they are divided into two different types, there is Isayeni and Orureshi and the one that was used in sewing is Isayeni. I: Isayeni is a small one while Orureshi is a big one? R3: Eeeeh! I: So, in the current times they no longer use leathered rope but nylon? R3: Yes, it is the nylon rope, but if someone comes to demand the leather rope, people are still able to sew it, because in the current times there are some people who do not like the nylon rope/strings, but they prefer the leather ones, so people still have some skills in making. I: If you made Ndalama like this, how much would it sell for? Number one, please tell us R1: You know in the past they were not made for sale, but people have become curious in selling them in current days, in the past people used to sew it for the husbands or their friends, but nowadays people have become aware of making them for some business. I: You are now clever? R1: Eeeeh! We are no longer stupid like in the past, now we sew for sale and make some good money for a living. I: How much would it be sold after being sewed? R1: It depends on its wide and number of beads it would take I: So, its price can change depending on the materials used? R1: Eeeeh!

source: Amani-Stade Project / Massai Field Research 2023 / Interview No. 07
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R: Anonymous