"Sunday, April 15, 1906 [underlined] [...] Mr. and Mrs. von Horn had announced their visit [...] They arrived around 12 o’clock, with them Mr. W. Bock. In the morning I arranged the floral decorations at Drachenburg: Sesbania grandiflora, Mina lobata, Cobaea scandens, Melaleuca leucadendron & Erythroxylon coca, all covered with red and yellow flowers. Our guests arrived punctually and we spent [...] pleasant hours together. Around 4 o’clock we parted. Max and I went [p. 118] on a short walk and were too lazy in the evening. – Through Mrs. von Horn, I came into possession of 3 very original pipes made of black clay with wooden mouthpieces: [drawing] The bird is, according to the artist, meant to be a duck. As far as I can judge from the shape, the pipe is missing a lid, which should have been attached via a hinge to the rear extension. [drawing] The idea for this pipe may have been inspired by those illustrated on p. 82. Very original is the wooden mouthpiece carving. [drawing] A reclining female figure (each piece cost 10 Heller)" [translation]

source: Museum der Kulturen Basel, VI 56197, 46 (118)
author: Karl Braun

"72. Black clay tobacco pipe / missionary. / original wooden carved pipe 10 heller / Amani 15 April 1906 / Mlalo work / TB [diary]. 46,118 / [drawing]" [translation]

source: Museen Stade, r 2018 / 18566
author: Karl Braun

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: So, you were already mature and knew what was going on. Fine. It's numbers seven and eight. Now, I have another picture here. It's registered as 2018_18368_001. Look at that. R: Is this not a saw? I: No, it's been mixed with something else. We've covered it so that it stands alone. R: If I look at it, I can see that it's almost similar, although the handle on this one has been improved. I: Looking at the head, does it look similar to what you saw in pictures seven and eight? R: No. I: Can you look at the head to see what it looks like? R: If I hold it like this, the front looks like this. I: Yes. R: I would say they were used by leaders such as kings. I: So, it was the kings who were using them? R: Yes, the way it is carved suggests that it was used by famous people. I: It wasn't for ordinary people? R: Yes, or is this a tree? I: According to the description, this is black clay from Mlalo. It was purchased on 15 April 1906. R: You know, this is what we were talking about. Probably someone came and sold it, and then it was bought here. There were these people from Makonde communities I: When did the people from the Makonde communities arrive here? R: I don't know. Most of them came to the valley, and some of them might still be there. I: Did they come to settle here? R: No. I: Did they come to do business? R: Maybe they came for business. I: There is probably clay soil here too, because it's said that only in Mlesa is clay soil widely available. R: Yes, you are right. I: So, you have never seen this before? R: No, I've never seen it before.

source: Amani-Stade Project / Mlalo Field Research 2023, Interview No. 09
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R: Anonymous

I: Ok, let's move on to another picture. I have one registered as 2018_18368_001. Look at it and tell us what it is. R: This is also a 'Kiko', but it is more decorated than the first one. When a person makes the first 'Kiko', the second one will be different, with more craftsmanship and decorations to attract smokers. I: Let's look at the first one. Its tobacco chamber is shorter than the one you are holding. Why do you think it was made differently? R: These craftsmen design them to attract buyers. They make them over time. This one was made to look more attractive, but the face is the same. I: If you look at it from the front, it looks like a human face. Can you tell us why they decorated it with a human face? R: People use it for smoking, and that is why it has a human face decoration. They made it in the shape of a person due to their craftsmanship. If you look at it, you will see that this one and that one is similar. Do you know why? It is because here it is narrow, and here it is narrow, but different. This was their expertise and design. I: If you look at it, can you tell us what materials were used to make it? R: This is 'mpingo'. You can see it has been scratched. This clay one has no issues other than this. This one is more decorated than this one, so it's designed to attract smokers. I: So, this is for attracting smokers? R: Yes. I: So it was possibly an mpingo tree? R: It possibly is an mpingo because an mpingo does not burn if you put charcoal on it like this. I: OK, and what material was that smoking pipe made from? R: There is a certain tree with a hollow centre that looks like a pipe. I: What is the name of that tree? R: It's like 'muanzi' (bamboo). There's a certain tree that, when you cut it, has a hollow in the centre. You poke it out with a stick. I: Is it hard or soft? R: It's hard unless you hit it on the ground, which is when it can break. I: If you compare it to the first one you are holding, do you think that if it were brought to market today and a smoker came across it, they would like it? R: This one is stronger. I: We can see that the rope is different from the first one. What do you think the material is that the rope is made of? R: It's like a thin Manila rope, but the fastening is used to tighten the 'Mtemba' here, here and here. I: In the current situation, how much could it be sold for? R: It could currently be sold for 10,000/- because it's better quality, but it can't be sold at the moment because it's not in use. I: Let's say you meet someone who uses 'kiko'. Would they be willing to pay ten thousand? R: Yes, because he is used to smoking with the 'Kiko'.

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

I: OK, fine, thanks. Let's show you another picture. I have another picture registered as 2018_18368_001. Look at this picture and tell us what it is. R: It's the same 'Mtemba'. I: Can you tell us how this 'Mtemba' differs from the one we discussed earlier? R: Nothing has changed; it's still the same. I: Looking at this tree, is it the same? R: The rope is the same. I: But the tree looks different. R: It's made differently every time. Today it's made like this, and tomorrow it's made like that. I: Some mitemba are made with red clay and some with black clay. R: They add dye. I: So, it was dyed? Q: What kind of dye were they using that could be burned without being destroyed? R: I don't actually know what kind of dye it was, but the most common colour was black. I: What material was used to make the black colour? R: It comes from clay. I: Which people used a design like this, because there were classes in society, and maybe the elders came from a certain status, for instance from royal societies? R: No. I: Could anyone use it? R: Yes, anyone could use it. I: The ‘Kiko’ or the ‘Mtemba’? R: The 'Mtemba'. I: How much could the 'Mtemba' be sold for if it were brought to market? R: About two thousand.

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