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: Let me take another photo with registration number 2018_18663_1, look and tell us what is that? R: These are bamboo I: They are bamboo? R: It was some pieces of bamboo I: Some pieces of bamboo? R: Eeeeh I: Did it have a special name? R: It was only bamboo I: Why has it been connected? R: In here it has been connected like Ngoma, they played it and produce some sounds I: Sound? R: Sound eeh I: They were being used in Ngama? R: Eeeh I: How it is being called? R: It names as I saw it here, they called it Marimba I: Marimba? R: Eeeeh I: Mhh! Hahahah! Marimba R: Eeeeh! When you played it, it sounds nde, nde, nde I: Marimba was the tradition of which people? R: It was common among the Sambaa I: The Sambaa? R: Eeeh! The Sambaa and the Bondei are commonly using these things eeh! I: So, it was in which regions this object was commonly available? R: In Tanga region I: Which places of Tanga region specifically? R: Commonly was in Amani because these kind of ngoma was played miuch in here I: So, it was only being used during Ngoma? R: Eeeeh! It was during the past Ngoma, the youths used to play it it every Saturday, it was just a law that in each Saturday, they had to dance ngoma eeeh! That’s it R: Eee! Marimba? I: Yes, hahahah! R: Even in Lushoto they used to be I: They used to be there too? R: Eeeh! I: Okay, who commonly used Marimba? R: It was both, males, and females I: Both? R: Particulary the youths I: Of which age? R: From the age of sixteen, eighteen, twenty and above to thirty-five I: Why it was common for the youths? R: It was just like a comfort to dance like nowdays I: It was a comfort for them? R: Yes, it was their comfort I: So, both females and males’ youths used it? R: Eeeeh! Currently they are still being used in Bonde, even in some cerebrations like marriage ceremonies they have been used to dance eeeh I: Do you think it will reach a time marimba will no longer used? R: I think its use will not end I: Why will it not end? R: Because it is still being played until today, even the coming generation will find it and continue with it I: Okay, for the marimba to be used what else were supposed to accompany it? R: There is ngoma I: So, for the marimba to be used you must have ngoma? R: Eeeh! You need to have ngoma I: Was there a special ngoma for the marimba to be played with or it was any ngoma? R: It is not like the school ngoma, they used to have their ngoma I: The ngoma of traditional groups? E: Eeeh! The ngoma of traditional groups I: What was the importance of marimba to the Sambaa tradition? E: Marimba was important to the Sambaa tradition, but they were common to the Bondei, on the side of the Sambaa they used ngoma in their traditional activities for example the girls were being conducted ngoma, when the girl gave birth ngoma was used eeh I: Okay, marimba is still being made today. R: In some lower lands like Bonde if I count it from here to Lushoto we call it Bonde they are still being used I: Are they still being made? R: Yes, they are still being made I: Okay R: Because even last year I found the there in Kwamdimu I: Kwamdimu? R: Eeeeh! I: Where is kwamdimu? R: Kwamdimu is a place found there in Kisiwani, there in the periphery, they are still playing them I: Okay, marimba is commony made by which people? R: This are the males particulary the youths eeeh! I: The youth who are the user R: Eeeh! It is them who makes I: Now do you think marimba was being made if which materials? R: Marimba have been made by using bamboo trees I: Bamboo? R: Eeeeh! I: It was bamboo and which other materials? R: It was bamboo and some ropes or wire just like this I: Was It being a wire and a normal rope? R: It was some normal wire; it was just wire and not rope I: It was a wire? R: Eeeeh! I: Okay, the materials which was being used in making marimba was it changing or iit remained the same for all those years? R: They may change them because nowdays we do have some plastic ropes called manila, so in some places you may find manila and other places wire I: Okay, in our current environment do you think marimba can be sold for how much? R: Currently? I: Eeeeh! R: This string? I: The complete marimba R: That marimba if someone make it can obtain fifteen thousand up to twenty thousand, but it depends I: Fifteen thousand up to twenty thousand? R: Eeeeh!

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