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_18300_1, look and tell us what is it? R: This is just a leather bag I: A leather bag, can you tell us the name of that bag? R: Mh! no I: No R: Eeeeh! I: Can you relate this bag with people of which tradition? R: The only people who can make objects like these are the Maasai I: Maasai? R: Eeeeh! I: Of which regions particularly? R: The regions which the Maasai can be found it is in Kilimanjaro and Tanga I: Would you be able to tell us the use of that bag? R: Eeeeh! The use of this bag was to keep different things eeeh! I: Which kind of things can be kept in these kinds of bags? R: If it is the women, it has been used a bag for travel which has been used in keeping some different kind of things which you wanted to travel with I: Okay, which gender have been using these kinds of objects in the Maasai communities? R: Here I can say that it is the females eeeh! With an age ranging from 18 years and above I: Do you think these kinds of objects will no longer needed or being used in the Maasai communities? R: I don’t think so because the value of this objects will still be there, it is an object which is still important to them, hence I don’t think if the females will leave this bag, because you can put your identity cards in it, pens and different things, some money you can put in it, hence it will continue having its value I: That means it will still be used. Have you seen this kind of bag very recently being produced? R: Frank speaking, I never saw it because it has been so long since I left there, and objects like these have been produced by people of Kilimanjaro region, particularly the Maasai I: Those who make these, are they males or females? R: Frank speaking, I never saw them making, I only saw them selling I: Selling? R: Eeeeh! I don’t know if it the males or females who makes it I: Okay, you just mentioned some materials which are being used in making these bags, that is a leather, is there any other materials used? R: I can not I: Let’s estimate the cost of this object, if it is being brought in the current market how would it be sold? R: Here, I can even pay ten thousand I: Why? R: Because leather materials stays longer, and its value doesn’t get’s down I: So, even if this object stays for another 100 years it will value the same? R: Eeeeh! If you’re a good keeper I: If you’re a good keeper? R: Eeeh!

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

I: Okay, that is history hahaha, fine, now they have remained 2 pictures to finish up, I have another picture here registered with the number 2018_18300_1, Mr. [anonymous] and [anonymous], what is this called in Maasai? R1: ‘Oribene’. I: Oribene is a basket? R1: Yes, it is an object for carrying things, women put it here and this one is put on the back and she walks with it. I: The rope is hanged on the head. R1: The woman walks with it on her back-putting things inside it, during that time there were no things, see it is put like they were saying kifungo oseregai. I: It is called ‘osegerai’? R1: You open it and put all your things, and this is sewn using skin, I had seen that a lot, it disappeared just very recently years 1980-1988, and then they were left after coming these sacks. I: Was it only used by women? R2: It was only for women, or an elder keeps it inside for keeping animal medicine, at that time there were no pouches, when kept inside no one could touch it, it is stored there. I: It was a skin of what animal? R2: Cows, sheep and goats, i mean any skin, and this is completely scraped, and it is a calf skin because it is soft, you cannot compare it with the skin of a big cow. I: Who were making these ‘oribene’ baskets? R2: They were women. I: From what age? R2: Starting from the age of 20 years old, if she has a problem with a basket, she comes with a skin and cuts it then folding it at the middle, we had seen them sewing from the sides until she finishes then a basket is complete. I: Currently they are no longer available anymore? R2: They are not available, but if you need it they make it for you if they are in need, but nowadays they are not available. I: Fine, so you said they are used to keep small things inside it? R1: Yes. I: Fine, even this rope is made of skin? R1: All is made of skin. I: This button you said is called what? R1: ‘Osererai’. I: Fine, and where were they getting the buttons? R1: They are many at the sea. I: At the sea? R1: Yes, there are many when you go to Tanga, you just collect them, in Arusha at the auction they sell them, but they are mostly available at the sea. I: Fine, for instance if I want one to be made for me like this, how much can it cost Mr. [anonymous]? R2: It depends on how you are going to talk with those who make them, I cannot tell you how much it is sold, it is until I tell people if they agree then I will let you know, but I cannot tell you they are making certain things, yet they are not the ones making. I: Hahahha, you can mention a price, then if you go there the price is different. R2: Yes, then it becomes a lie. I: So, calf skin was the one used? R1: Yes, it is soft.

source: Amani-Stade Project / Massai Field Research 2023 / Interview No. 01
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R1, R2: Anonymous

I: I have another photo with registration number 2018_18300_1, please grand tell us what is it? R2: This is called Olbenee I: Olbenee? R2: Eeeeh! It was being used in carrying some things when you went to the market, things like sugar were being put in it and grab it on the head without any problem, so it helped in carrying things I: That belt is being put on the head R2: Eeeeh! This belt is being put in here and the Olbenee lies on the back ready for the journey I: Olbenee hahah! R2: Eeeeh! Then this is Esikirai I: And that button? R2: Eeeh! Esikirai I: Which animal leather was it being used in making it? R2: It is a goat I: Why the goat leather? R2: It is good to produce with it I: Hahahah! R2: Eeeeh! It was being used in the past times, but even if someone wants it in the current times, we can make it with goat leather, but the cow’s leather isn’t good for it, it was only goat leather which was being used in making it I: Is it only goat? R1: Eeeeh! Because it is soft I: Has it been soft to sculpt it? R1: Eeeeh! I: Olbenee? R2: Eeeeh! Olbenee I: Who are the users of Olbenee between the males and the females? R2: The females I: Of which age? R2: From our age and anyone can pick it up I: From the age of 30? R2: Eeeeh! And above I: Who are the makers, is it the females as well? R2: Eeeeh! It is the females I: The males cannot make it? or it is not allowed. R2: No, can not I: So, its importance was to carry things? R2: Eeeeh! I: When you to the market? R2: If you go to a certain journey, you can grab your Olbenee, or if you go to bring a wife you can put it in her room I: If you bring a bride, you put her things in it? R2: Eeeeh! Then you grab it on your back R1: If it is gourd you can put in it and go with a bride I: Okay was its importance in the Maasai tradition? R2: This was an ancient tradition if you grabbed your object in it wasn’t easy being rained I: Water doesn’t penetrate it R2: No I: Are nowadays made? R2: Eeeeh! If someone wants it, we can make I: Until someone wants it, maybe R2: Eeeeh! I: So, currently you don’t use Olbenee when you go to take a bride mama [anonymous], please tell us? R2: They use it, but not all of them, at the moment there are many bags, the world has changed and we have left things from the past, like we used to put on the goat leather dresses when we attended some ceremonies, but now people put on good dresses when they attend a ceremony. R1: If you decide now until the day after tomorrow it would be ready, if you are going to bring a bride, but in the current day people have just left it because they don’t know how to make Olbenee, also it has some alternative. I: So, if someone wants it, how much would it cost grand Katepoi? R2: My son, this is goat leather, but at the moment you have to buy it because the elders don't slaughter goats in their homes like they used to, in the past the elders used to slaughter goats in their homes every day, when someone had given birth or the elders got together at home, they had to slaughter it. It was easy to get some hides, but now you have to go and buy it from the butcher, then you scratch all the hides if he/she wanted it and if he/she didn't want it, it leaves the hides as it is, then I sew it until Olbenee is complete, although it is a very hard task to remove the hides. I: Another work? R2: Eeeeh! Because you had to find a tree and stood it up, then take an axe and scratch it until all the fur are gone, then you start making Olbenee

source: Amani-Stade Project / Massai Field Research 2023 / Interview No. 05
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R1-3: Anonymous

I: Okay, I have another photo with registration number 2018_18300_1, please take it number two and tell us what it says in Maasai? R2: Olbenee I: What is Olbenee? R2: Olbenee it is a bag for carrying things, it was also made and used in the making of some local beer, you could fill it with some water and mix it with some herbs to make alcohol, then you seal it and put somewhere for some days to cook itself, those herbs were obtained from the aloe vera roots and left to cook itself. I: Then it becomes alcohol? R2: Yes, it becomes alcohol after cooking itself until it makes some sounds du, du, so it was also used to make some alcohol. I: So, Olbenee it was being used in carrying things and making some alcohol? R2: Eeeeh! I: Number three would you like to add something on Olbenee? R3: In the past this bag was called Olbenee Olimokora, it was used to fill some alcohol that was made with some honey, because there was no sugar in those times, so they used to bring a bucket of some honey and five or six buckets full of water that was also mixed with some other local herbs, then it was hung somewhere on the house, it hung like this...eeeeh! Then when you hear it evaporate, it meant that the alcohol was ready, that was what it meant. I: What was used in making it? R3: It was a cow leather I: The people of which gender used to make Olbenee? R1: Olbenee was being made by the males I: From which age? R1: It was the elders who designed this thing, because it was used even before the giant pumpkins known as orimosori were planted, it was this that was used to make alcohol in those bygone times. I: Was Olbenee being used by the females alone or it was also being used by the males as well? R1: It was the men who made some alcohol, no woman was allowed to make it, it was the men who knew the amount of honey and water needed to make it, no woman was involved in making any alcohol, it was the men who made and tested it. I: How long did it take to recognize that the alcohol was ready? R1: When they make this big one it can take a month, yeah it can take a month because the original traditional one is not easy, that's why they didn't make it to sell but for their own use, for example when they had some celebration it was when they made some alcohol, in most cases it was during the initiation or marriage ceremonies eeeeh! So, they made it for their own use.

source: Amani-Stade Project / Massai Field Research 2023 / Interview No. 07
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R1-3: Anonymous