"Sunday, November 13, 1904 [underlined] [...] Recently, I received some arm jewelry: 1. Schenzi bracelet [Schenzi = Swahili], found in the village, old with a patina coating [drawing] 2. Upper arm ring [correction: bracelet, thigh band] made of brass wire (intestine strings wrapped with wire are introduced from Bondei and called "dodi" [correction "Madodi"] by the Schenzi and "Talli" in Swahili). Gift from Mr. Krockenberger in Derema [drawing] 3. Bracelet, thick twisted copper piece, bought for 1 Rupie from a Swahili, called "Talli." As far as I could understand, the Swahili call a wire-wound band Madodi or Dodi, and one made from solid brass Talli (Baumann, O. Usambara. Berlin 1891. p.31) [drawing] [...]" [translation]

source: Museum der Kulturen Basel, VI 56197, 43 (95)
author: Karl Braun

"3. Bracelet "talli" purchased: Amani 13.11.1904 = 1 Rp. (Baumann, O. Usambara. Berlin 1891) [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: And if you go to Mr. [anonymous], you will see many of them on this left side... well, now we have finished talking about the postcard pictures, now we move to pictures about equipments, in my hand I have a picture of the equipment registered with number 2018_18443_1, look at it if you can identify what it is? R: This thing looks like a copper ring, that in the traditions of old youth people used to wear a ring on their hand, so this is a copper ring that was worn. I: Can you tell us if it had a special name according to the communities you saw using that ring? R: Yes, they used to call it 'nanga' I: What language is that? R: That is the Swahili language, the young people used to wear it if he had a fight, he used it wedge to his opponent, so it was acting like a weapon and helps him to fight that person well. I: Can you name three communities that you know which uses this thing? R: This was like a certain culture spreading to all the communities, so the Sambaa people here were using it, the Nyamwezi community were using it and also the Sukuma community, even currently if you look at the Sukuma people they still wear it, the Luo people also still wear it, if you go to some areas to the upcountry you will see many people still wearing those rings in their hands. I: In Sambaa community is it still known with same name 'anga?' R: Yes, they knew, the name I have mentioned to you is for the Samba people, they call it 'nangaa' I: What does it mean? R: It means this name of ‘shaba’ (copper) is the name in Sambaa community. I: If the bracelet is made, ‘nanga’ will be called using which name? R: They are still calling it using the same name. I: So, it is still ‘nanga?’ R: Yes. I: Which region was exactly this thing found? R: Nobody is looking for this copper, except that equipments such as old cables were made of copper, electric cables, bowls, pots also were made of copper, so there were craftsmen who were hitting them and changing it to another thing. R: So which region was exactly using the nanga? R: Let's say it is the whole of Tanzania, because in the past there were copper pots, copper kettles and many copper things, so when they get worn out, the are hitted and made something else to wear. I: During the colonial period, were there copper pots? R: Yes, they were there, and they were the ones who spread them a lot because I think aluminum was unknown more, that's why they used copper because the locals were much using the local pots, now this copper has decreased, in the past when you cooked using these copper pots and if it was vegetables you were cooking, you couldn’t put lemon, if you put lemon, it becomes bitter, you cannot put lemon a copper container, if you put lemon, it becomes very bitter like aloevera. I: Why? R: I think there is certain acid that doesn't get along with the copper, and that's why it wears like this, I think in the using of oil cooking or whatever it changes like that. I: What gender used to wear nanga at that period? R: They were men. I: Of what age? R: They were only young people; he wears only one bracelet. I: I think ‘nanga’ is currently still being used or will it come a time it will no longer be valuable to the young people? R: Over the years people have changed because these days there are many different cultures, if you go to the upcountries there are some areas you will find there are still people wearing them, even here there are still few who are wearing them except that it is not as thick as this one, because this is heavy but not thick like this one but they are putting it on, an examples of those nanga, if you go to the Maasai people you will find them still wearing the copper bracelets, although the design have been changed not like this one, the Sukuma people still wear them and they improved even more now, they currently even wear certain white rubber, they cut them into pieces and join them and wear, for that reason this is still in use. I: For a person to use nanga, is there another thing that he should have along with it, that is, he wears it together with the nanga? R: No, that is only for the youth, a person thinks if I wear this thing, he will be very smart and he will be loved and that’s all All: Laughing. I: He will be loved by who? R: I mean instead of wearing a watch, he gets something that keeps him busy in his hand. I: What was the importance to cultures of the people you have mentioned? R: It was just a decoration, there was nothing more than decorations I: What kind of people were making nanga at that time? R: The people who were making them were the ‘mafundi mchundo’,(craftmen) when I say ‘mafundi mchundo’ I don't know in Swahili if it is understood, I mean they are these craftsmen who even make sufurias, buckets and whatever, they were the experts who used to make things like that, if you look at them carefully, for a person who did not see those old things, he can't identify what are they, but because I saw them I have that idea. I: Were they women or men who were making them? R: They were men, I think I will look for it properly I have it, I have it for my grandfather. I: If you will happen to see it, it will be better. R: Well will look for it. I: What age were exactly making them? R: This had no age, in the past young people were famous for their ability to make various tools, meaning that for everyone who learned could make it. I: Currently here in Amani we are living, is there anyone who makes things like those? R: No, because currently if you see a people wearing rings like these, they are not ringing anymore but they are things embroidered with beads, you can see them charters of either Simba or Yanga, those are things what people wear. I: Okay fine, this is where we can realize that it was copper that was used to make that, as the years went by and changing, were the materials that were used to make nanga also changing or they continued to be copper until today R: The materials have changed after emerging of things like aluminum, but for my grandfather's it is still have the original copper, it has the same original hence I will have to look for it because it is many years ago. I: If you look at that nanga and they way it is decorated, it is brought to the market now, how much can it be sold? R: I don't know but I think the buyer must know the benefit and the certain value, but currently if you take it to a person, he will make earings instead of making nanga, this is because nanga are no longer worn, it seems that the copper that was used in the past was the original copper. I: Now let's assume the same material is sold, how much can that copper be sold? R: This can value at the worth of about Tsh. 50,000/=. I: Why did you given it to that value? R: This is heavy, it is thick heavy copper, in that sense if you cut it into pieces and design other small things, it gives many things like necklaces, earings.

source: Amani-Stade Project / Amani Field Research 2023, Interview No. 25
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R: Anonymous