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: Now let's go to another picture, I have a picture registered with the number 2018_18440_1, look at it if you can recognize what it is? R: I can see a 'kiko' or 'mtembe', andthis is a hurricane lamp, and these others are also of different designs, you can join this one with that, I don't know if I am right? I: You are right, now let's look on this picture, they were made many since 1902 to 1928, can you tell us what people were associated in this culture of using kiko? R: Kiko was was mostly used by elders of Sambaa community, and during that period a man who did not smoke kiko had no status in front of other men. All: Laughing R: it was something to be very proud of. I: How was it used? R: You put tobacco in it and then smoke, there was also another one called 'buruma', to smoke it was until there is a jar with water, but to be honest, I don't know which people used it, here at our place they were not using it. I: But ‘kiko’ was being used? R: This was mostly used by the Sambaa people. I: By now how is your current using of the kiko? R: The users are not existing, and I think even in Europe there are no users either, in the past especially the Germans used to have that kind of smoking, he was smoking and if he wanted to dump the ash he hit on your head, by that time he was carried and he was smoking, when he wanted to clear removing the tobacco ash he was hitting on the head of a person who carried him, for real they had troubles I: Apart from smoking, can this tool be used for other purposes? R: It’s only that. I: What do you think has led the kiko not to be in use nowadays? R: The user are not existing I: When you say the ‘users’ what do you mean, were they who valued it... R: Those who valued it are not there, these kiko had special tobacco, and nowadays that kind of tobacco is also not available, because the users are not existing but when a tobacco was put in a kiko you could feel it oh! It had a good taste’, but now they are no longer there I: You said it was a respect for a person to smoke kiko during that period, what caused the person who was smoking kiko to appear having greater respect than the one who did not smoke the kiko? R: It was just like that. I: Was it because of the appearance or it was used by bosses. R: First what I can say it was not bothering the smoker, do you know that holding a cigarette, you will not finish it until you feel the good taste reaches you, you can throw it if it has remained a piece, but with kiko you can use it until you finish your tobacco. I: Is there a different taste between cigarettes and kiko? R: It will depend on if the taste of cigarette tobacco and tobacco in kiko is going to have the same taste, but the tobacco in the kiko had its own taste and the cigarette had its taste. I: Currently the kiko smokers are not existing, don’t they see its importance? R: I don't know, maybe we should start it again. All: [Laughing] I: Currently are their people who really make them, if a person wants kiko, can he get it? R: It will be difficult for him because the users also do not exist. I: So, it is possible even people in their homes may not have it, and gender were they using it mostly and of what age? R: They are old men from the age of 60 years and above, for real it was not for the young people, and the people who were using kiko were of older age, for instance the age I am now 77 years old, at that period I used to be sent to go to a shop like a child, at that time I was seen like a young man because people lived for 500, 600, 800 years old, that’s why I previously said the government to say it is a crime a girl getting married under 18 years old, I think they are wrong, this is because in the past a woman was married at the age of 30 to 50 years old and continued giving birth, and since they used to live for many years, for instance a person living 300 or 500 years old, what age do you think she was expected to get married, now if today you can see a person of 40 years old, she is dead and left children, so why not getting married under 18 years because at the age of 40 years already she has grandchildren, hence the government should also consider on this. I: Looking on the kiko, what materials were used to make it? R: It was from a tree. I: What kind of tree was it? R: There were hardwoods that if you put tobacco in it for smoking, it was not affecting. I: Can you mention for us the kind of trees? R: There was ‘mpingo’, ‘mkura’, those were the hardwood, when you cut with a sword, sparks come out. I: Now let's estimate that tool you see, now if it is valued by today’s older people, how much could it be sold? R: For the smokers if they could be using it today, I think it would be given for free, this is because the value of something is due to its era. I: Fine, in those days how much would it be sold? R: In the era we are talking about it would be sold at one shilling. I: But now we don't have one shilling, we have from one thousand shillings. R: We can sell it at 500/=.

source: Amani-Stade Project / Amani Field Research 2023 / Interview No. 02
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R: Anonymous