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: I do have a photo with registration number 2018_18302_001, look and tell us what is it? R: Kishoka I: How do they call it? R: Kishoka I: Kishoka? R: Eeeeh! I: Kishoka, what is that languge? R: Even the Samba are calling it Kishoka, but is not the type of Kighembe (Small hoe), the one which bends this way, this one has this shape, do you see it, but there is also a small hoe which looks like this (Kishoka) I: Kishoka? R: Eeeeh! I: So, it is being called Kishoka? R: Eeeeh! Kishoka I: It was the people of which traditions who have been using Kishoka? R: Even the Sambaa are using this I: The Sambaa? R: Eeeeh! I: It was commonly available in which regions? R: The regions which I saw it was in Tanga I: Tanga? R: Eeeeh! I: In which places? R: In Muheza District the division of Amani, it was where this came from I: How was Kishoka being used? R: This was being use in cutting I: To cut what? R: Some of the people have been using it as a weapon, someone can hold it while walking during the night as weapon I: It was made for which purpose? R: You could find some of them were using this in breaking some small firewoods such as the barks of the trees, it was this which was being used I: Breaking some firewood? R: Eeeeh! These are the small ones I: Okay R: Because there are of two types I: Yes R: This type there were some of the people who used to have something like this, even the coconut tree climbers have been using it in making the climbing holes I: Let’s talk about what you see first R: This looks like an axe I: That is an axe R: Eeeeh! I: So, it was being used in cutting some firewoods? R: Eeeh! It was being used in cutting anywhere which troubled you, you could have been cut with this very well eeeh! I: So, it was the Sambaa, and the Bondei have been using this? R: Eeeeh! Both use this eeeh! I: Who were the main user of axes between the males and the females and of which age in the community? R: I also used to see the youth using this as well eeeh! I: It doesn’t consider age? R: It doesn’t consider age and sometimes it has been used as a weapon eeeh! I: Do the women use it as well? R: Eeeeh! They also use it I: Do you think it will reach a time when an axe will no longer be used in the current times? R: This is Kishoka I: What is the difference between Kishoka and Shoka (small axe and axe)? R: Eeeh! Different I: Kishoka? R: You use by a hand this way I: Is it smaller? R: Eeeeh! A small one like this I: Aaaah! do you think it will reach a time when Kishoka will no longer be used? R: It is not easily being seen to the people; it is not being seen I: Why it is not being seen? R: You know as the way the days goes on, environmental understanding has cause this to not being used and kept only inside eeeh! I: How has the environment contributed for this thing to not being used? R: Following the destruction of the forest you don’t have anywhere to apply it, it has just been as a memories inside I: So, following the destruction of the forest its use was also lost? R: It has not lost its use; it is only just being kept for memories only I: To use Kishoka what else you were rquired to have? R: In most of the Times you must have a sword eeeh! So, in some hard places you can use that sword, and those simple places you can use this one I: Okay, what was the importance of Kishoka particulary for the Sambaa? R: You know sometimes the importance of somethings comes with the love you have on that thing eeeh! The way you love it from the heart, it is when you will use it but if you ignore it and put it aside eeeh! So, it depends on how much you love it I: So, its importance comes with the way you love it? R: That is show it is being loved I: Okay, Kishoka is still being made today, are there people who stll make it? R: Currently, I dont see them I: So, the makers have disappeared totally? R: It has dissappeared I: Maybe, if you try recall how many years back you used to see being made Mr. [Anonym]? R: Because even the iron smith who makes these, I haven’t been seeing them currently eeeh! I: Why? R: Its time has been fowarded ahead I: Its time is over? R: Eeeeh! Its time is over I: Okay, who were making the Kishoka between the males and the females? R: The males I: Why the males? R: You know our fellow females can not do certain kind of works, they are considered being of males, we never mixed up in those activities I: What made it being impossible to mix up? R: You know traditions and those habits particulary they used to say that that is the work for this one and not for this one, that is why we didn’t mix up, everyone used to do its work I: What was the main reason apart from the female and male gender, were there other reasons? R: Mostly it was the ability I: What kind of ability? R: The ability of taking that iron and burn it in the kitchen, hitting it with a hammer to produce the design you want, the women can tell you that she couldn’t do that, that is why it was a work of men I: What do you mean by ability Mr. [Anonym]? R: You know this one you can find that iron has been thrown there, but putting the fire on and burn that iron until you get this picture, it takes time I: It didn’t consider that someone had some strength or making kishoka, just tell us Mr. [Anonym]? R: You know mostly this doesn’t use much strength because it is the fire which is being used in melting it I: Okay, what was the ages of the people who used to make kishoka at that time? R: You know sometimes you can even get some skills very ealier basing on your efforts, you can get those skills of the fore steps but mostly at that time works like these were being done by the peole of the average age, those who were making Kishoka I: Of which age? R: The age of twenty or thirty and above but if a person reaches the age of seventh can say that can not do anymore I: Because of strength loss? R: Sometimes can be loss of strength or leaving it to the others to do it so that they can also earn something for a living eeeh! I: Would you be able to recognize the materials which have been used in making Kishoka Mr. [Anonym]? R: In most of the cases Kishoka has been made of iron, a hammer and a hadle eeeh! I: The handle of any tree? R: Eeeh! Any tree which torelates and doesn’t break easily, can be used in making it I: Hard tree? R: Yes, hard tree I: Okay, those materials which have been used in making Kishoka did it changed as the years went on or remained being iron and a tree handle? R: Eeeeeh! Those are the matrials which are mainly used I: There is not any change in making the Kishoka materials Mr. [Anonym]? R: Things have been changing maybe you could find a spiral, and get its sharpeners and shapern it, it could be ready I: So, it is being used by being made from iron or? R: Iron for Iron I: That kind of small axe (Kishoka) in the current times how much would it be sold? R: This I: Eeeeh! R: It depends on someone; he can even tell you twenty thousand I: Hahahah! R: Eeeeh! Because he lost his time in designing this, he might be telling you twenty or fifteen thousand I: For example, where were you able to get them in Muheza, in which places maybe, R: in the past two to three years? I: Commonly you can find them being sold in the markets R: Any Market? I: Eeeeh! You will find it in any market

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