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 another photo with registration number 2018_18205_1, please look at it Mr. [anonymous]. R2: This is Engimeita I: It is being called Engimeita R2: We call it Elong’ongoi I: Engimeita or Elong’ongoi? R2: Aaah! It is just a pattern only I: The pattern is being called Elong’ongoi? R2: Eeeeh! I: Engimeita? R2: Engimeita ondoye, meaning it has been carved with a sign of a shield I: What does it mean by Elong’o pattern? R2: People used to make some identity and put on it to look good I: A decoration? R3: Ooh! It is for wrapping on the waist, this is from many years ago because at that time the girls used to put on leather like this that was wrapped on top of the clothes. I: It was for the girls only? R2: Eeeeh! It was only for the girls I: Why is it only for the girls? R2: It is just an icon of being a girl, because the mothers never wrap these, it is only for the unmarried girls I: From which age? R2: From the age of 17 years R3: The age of 17 is so far, it is the age of 13,14, and 15 years, because at the age of 17 she is ready to move to her husband eeeh! I: So, she never puts it on when married? R2: Because, she has already been someone’s wife she never puts it on again I: So, it is an Elong’o pattern Mr. [anonymous]? R2: It is an Elong’o pattern I: Why was it being made in the shield pattern? R2: It depends on how one wants to decorate it, or maybe taking the shield pattern I: So, she doesn’t put it on when she is married? R2: She never puts it on I: So, it was the beads and what else which were being used in making it Mzee […]? R2: They used some beads and this one that was carved well, it is a leather, it is the one that was used in making it and then there are certain kinds of strings that were used in carving it eeeh! I: Which animal leather was being used? R2: It is a cow I: It is only a cow leather? R2: Eeeeh! It is the cow’s leather only I: Why is it only the cow’s leather? R2: There is no one with this kind of leather because the sheep and the goat’s leather are not good in making this I: Who were the makers of these between the males and the females? R2: The mothers R3: The mother makes it for her girl, but the father is supposed to buy the beads and bring it to the mother I: It is the father who brings the beads and her mother makes it? R2: Eeeeh! So that her girl can be seen with her fellows I: So, that she can get a husband quickly or? R3: Even if she didn’t get him but the intention is to make her look good, as you know the good thing never hides I: So, who had the role of making this between the father and the mother? R2: Eeeeh! I: The father brings the beads R2: The mother makes it and provides it to the girl I: Okay, she leaves it when she is married. R2: She leaves it to her mother and if there is a youngest one she would inherit it, so that it can keep being in use I: How much would this cost Mr. [anonymous]? R2: It depends on that time, it might have been sold at a low price, but now the cost has been raised I: How much do the beads cost nowadays? R: For now, we don’t know how much they cost I: Why are they not being made nowadays? R2: They have been making it for some business purpose, when you go to Mgagao you will find they are being sold there also I: So, it was meant for decoration only? R3: Eeeh! If you go to Mgagao to buy it, it costs one hundred thousand I: If it is complete? R3: Eeeeh! One hundred thousand I: So, it was the mothers of which age who used to make it? R2: It depends on the skills of a person R3: Also, these mothers have their age, because the most elders cannot make them since they have sight problems I: So, they are still being used till today? R2: They are being used

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

I: I have another picture registered with the number 2018_18205_1, there is one of you who have also identified it, what is it called? R3: ‘Engimeta’. I: Who can tell us how the engimeta is used? R2: This engimeta a woman is sewing it with enopini, it is sewn for a lady, and you put it with ‘likaria’ then you dress her. I: Is it a married or unmarried masai girl? R2: She is an unmarried girl. I: Which part does she wear it? R2: On the waist. I: It is worn on the waist? R2: Yes. I: Is it inside or outside the body? R2: She wears it on top of the clothes. I: Can you tell us how is the fashion called? R2: That fashion has no name. I: How long does she wear it, when she gets married does she continue wearing it or stops it? R2: When she is married, she is no longer a girl, so he takes it away. R3: When the lady has reached the age of 10 years old already she is prepared to put on the engimeta, so you prepare the cowhide and cut it to make the engimeta, after getting the size of her waist you sew beads on it then she is worn, when she has reached the age of ‘siangki’ she is no longer a young girl and she is not allowed anymore to wear the engimeta because she is now preparing to get married, that she will leave her home and going to get married. I: Who is taking it over? R3: Another girl who is younger to her. I: So, when she gets married, she does not take it to her husband? R3: Yes, she doesn't go with it. I: What was the importance of the engimeta? R1: Engimeta has several meanings, when a girl grown up, she is no longer allowed to go to a place called ‘Esoto’ to join with morans without the engimeta, hence that is what it means in Maasai society. I: What is it called? R1: ‘Esoto’, it means the gathering of morans and girls, if a girl goes to sleep with a moran she can take out the engimeta and put it on the bed, there is wood that is on the bed in the past it we used to live in a mud house, not comparing to now that they are made with grass corrugated iron sheets, during that time there were houses covered with mud and leaves, so will keep it on the bed she is going to sleep with the moran with is not allowed, thus a going to sleep with a moran should have the engimeta, which has to be hanged on the bed, so, Engimeita has been a must for mother who has girl, she should take a leather and make Engimeita for her girl, after making it she can take soild called Lukaria whjch was being mixed with some oil, and the beads which has being mixed with lukaria then sewed with a long rope ready to be given and worn by her girl, so if she goes to her husband she has to put it off because it is not permitted to go there with it just like the Swahili girls who put on beads on their waist as underwear, the Maasai girls are not permitted to put on underwear beads, it is only Engimeita. R3: The engimeta has many good things and it has a lot of importance, for example a boy is taken for circumcision before becoming a moran when he is in the stage of ‘sipolio’, he must put on the engimeta, this will indicate this boy is already circumcised, so it is the same to the girls that when she is seen putting it on she is already grown up, hence it has such blessings in the youth in the Maasai community. I: So, it is worn by a person who is already circumcised? R3: For the boy, he wears it when he goes for circumsicion, but for girls, it is the situation that she is a grown up but not circumcised, and when a morani is removed his hair ‘spolio’ he also returns this. I: So, after he is shaved, he takes this off? R3: Yes. I: You said it is worn on top of the clothes? R3: Yes, on top of the clothes. I: Is it any kind of cloth she can wear? R3: Yes, any clothes like the ‘orekelaa’, it is a cowhide hence there are some people who wear leather and tie it around their waist. R1: In the past when we put on engimeta and orekelaa we used to go to a festival, nothing elso was worn on top no matter how big her breasts are, she wears a bead and orekelaa here on the waist, she puts an engimeta to go to the festival, so it is very meaningful in our Maasai society. I: Is it still being made even now? R1: Yes, even now. I: Is it also used in the same way you described? R1: Yes. I: So those who sew this are the women? R1: They are the women. I: Is it the mother to the daughter? R1: The mother’s daughter or if she is busy, she can ask her friend to help her sew the daughter's engimeta, and she brings with the beads, they help to sew, not in another way but we help each other in the community.

source: Amani-Stade Project / Massai Field Research 2023 / Interview No. 10
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R1, 2: Anonymous