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: Fine, I have another picture registered with the number 2018_18267_1, look at it if you can tell me what is this? R3: This is what I was saying even my son is making them, these are metal bars that you hit them until they become like this, he hits it until it becomes round like this and then it becomes sharp, he then finds a good stick that he fix it here and on the other side to the bottom he fixes other metal, such that he can fix it on the ground on this side, then he puts a thin skin up here and well tied and dries up there, from there the spear is ready to be used for self-protection and different enemies. I: And a spear in Maasai language what is it called? R3: It is ‘Embere’, but this one is ‘Nyembere’ which is similar to this one only that it is wide, but generally it is called ‘Embere’ as the shape of ‘Nyerembe’ is different to this normal one which is long and thin, but Nyembere is short and wide. I: The long one is called what? R3: It is ‘Emberesirwa’ because it is white and short, this is special to the young boys who are the morans. I: Morans? R3: Yes, only the Morans. I: It long? R3: It is long about 3 feet tall and more. I: The metal? R3: Yes, only the metal. I: It is about 3 feet? R3: Yes, it is about 3 feet long, don’t you see if you stand it is longer than you. I: What was is its exactly function? R3: It's a defensive weapon, but they are different between the Moran and the elders spear, the elders are using the old things but the morans spear looks good and it is white and long, each time it is scrubbed and becomes white, when he does like this it shines, hence when he has a spear like that, and the girls sees it then it is over. I: Hahaha, the ‘Emberesirwa?’ R3: Yes, ‘emberesirwa’, this is ‘nyerembe’ and there is a special nyerembe that is made of ordinary spears, but it is not made like that, it is fixed in a handle and the nyerembe the handle, but it can be fixed on both sides. I: The tree used to make a handle on this spear was called what, number 3 can you tell us? R3: When I talk about the morans spear I will take you far, we Maasai have different ages, there are the typical Morans owning spears in their society which is white with black handle, now if we consider the age groups the next following are the young age who are not allowed to carry a spear with black handle, if you were seen with a white spear with black handle you were punished and the handle was broken because you are not allowed and you are still young from the older age, they were doing that because already they were permitted to control the whole family, they are understood that they are their elders and carry a white spear with black handle, but for the one who is not allowed should carry ‘nyerembe’ but often they are small age and this is an older age, they show why they have already been given permission, he has control over the whole family, they are known as their elders, they can put their spears in black handles and they carry white spears, but the one who does not have a white spear also carries a spear, but used by the elders and those young ones who had not been circumcised, the older ones have white spears and if the morans are stopped from the moran stage to the elder stage then it will the chance of the young ones to take over and their handles of their spear will be black, hence that is the procedures we have and even if you ask they will tell you. I: So ‘nyerembe’ is used by young men and old men? R3: Yes, the white and long spear is for the morans and they are fixed with black handle, so if you see a spear with black handle mind you that it is for the senior, the juniors cannot use the spear with black handle until they reach the senior stage, when the morans have undergone the elderly stage then the juniors they take over and become the morans, hence they would be the only ones to have that situation. I: So, for the morans you said it is called what? R3: For the morans it is called ‘Emberesirwa’.

source: Amani-Stade Project / Massai Field Research 2023 / Interview No. 08
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R1, R2: Anonymous