Bahlekazi is a surname that bears Jali as the totem or praise name. Jali is a “sub-tributary” clan of Mpinga (amaMpinga) son of Ntose, son of Mpondomise, son of Njanya, a descendant of Gubhela son of Mbo. The stock of people is amaMbo / abaMbo. Jali belongs to the Mpondomise tribe as described above. The language former spoken by amaMpondomise became obsolete at the advent of the written literature in the Cape colony. This tribe currently speaks Xhosa and sometimes confused with the Xhosas as though they are of the same stock. The Xhosas are the only true ABANGUNI / ABENGUNI SINCE THEIR ANCESTOR WAS NGUNI. The term Nguni is incorrectly used as a blanket term to refer to all the tribes that speaks dialect closely related to isiXhosa, such as Mpondo, Thembu, Bhaca, Zulu, Xesibe, Swati, Mpondomise and the Ndebele of Mpumalanga including amaXhosa. Jali – clan praise name does NOT include “yem-yem” because yem yem is a Thembu (abaThembu, ooDlomo, Madiba) totem /praise name. Therefore, Jali’s totem/praise name (depending on the region of each individual’s origin, eg. Eastern Cape, KZN, etc) is: JALI, MADELA OWADEL’ UBUKHOSI WABUNIK’ UNCWINI! UJONGEN’ EMANZIN’ INTLANZI UYISHIYANGEMVA NJE? JALI, MPHANKOMO, NYATHI, MPEMVU, NALA!
Month: February 2022 Page 2 of 5
Ngicela izithakazelo zakwa Thungo
After Ramavhoya’s death, Rasithu became the king of Venda. He became known as Ramabulana, a Tshivenda version of Ramapulana. Mahosi (senior chiefs) andmagota (junior chiefs/headmen) who had paid tribute to Ramavhoya, recognised Ramabulana as the legitimate king.
Ramabulana’s reign lasted a long time. It is believed that he lived till he was in his 90s. But the Boers, who he had teamed up with to oust Ramavhoya, were becoming a problem because they wanted more land than was originally agreed. They also wanted Vhavenda men and women, including royal princes and princesses, to work for them for free. This led to conflicts between Vhavenda and the Boers. Davhana was even arrested by the Boers who were now stationed at Thivhalalwe (known today as Schoemansdal), for allegedly stealing a white farmer’s cow. But Davhana managed to escape from detention.
Ramabulana, no longer trusting the Boers and fearing that he too would be arrested by the land hungry and land grabbing Boers on spurious charges, left Tshirululuni and settled at one of his royal residences at Nngwekhulu. He left Nngwekhulu after two years and settled at Vuvha, another of his royal residences. Vuvha was relatively closer to Tshirululuni than Nngwekhulu. Ramabulana’s younger brother, Madzhie, remained in charge of royal affairs at Tshirululuni royal residence.
In old age and at Vuvha, Ramabulana was cared for by Makhado’s mother, Limani. She was the daughter of Matumba, a Mukwevho of Tshitavhadulu and the younger brother of Khosi Matidze, the chief of the Mukwevho clan of Luonde. The warmth and kindness displayed by this good and intelligent woman towards Ramabulana at a time of great distress, counted heavily in her son’s favour during the disputes over the succession to Ramabulana’s throne. In other words, by doing as she did, Limani paved the way for the succession of her son Makhado, to the throne[1].
Ramabulana later ordered Makhado and Limani to return to Tshiruruluni, the royal capital, in order to be closer to whites and to be his eyes and ears. Davhana relocated to Vuvha to take care of Ramabulana.
A typical traditional Venda Homestead (photo courtesy of Lishivha Wilderness)
Realising that the war of succession could ensue amongst Rambulana’s sons after his death, Makhado’s maternal uncles, the Mukwevhos, advised him to secretly enter the mula/murundu (circumcision school) at Tshamatangwi, Ha-Mashau in 1854. Makhado became the first Singo prince to be circumcised. But the reason why his maternal uncles advised him to enter mula was to render him acceptable to fellow initiates who would later form the core of his fighters in the war of succession. He entered mula with his cousin Nndwayamiomva Ravele. This is the same Nndwayamiomva who was, during the war of succession, sent to Old Mauluma by Makhado to be the khosi (senior chief) of Mauluma and to also repel attacks by Davhana. The age group with which Makhado and Nndwayamiomva were initiated was known as Madali.
Some historians have argued that Makhado was the first Muvenda to be circumcised. This is incorrect. The Tshivhula and Mukwevho clans had already started circumcising their boys long before Makhado was born. Makhado’s maternal grandfather, Matumba, was the first Mukwevho to be circumcised after he visitedMavhambo, Ha-Tshivhula, during circumcision season. Ha-Tshivhula is known today by the names of All Days and Waterpoort.
Vhatwamamba and Vhakwevho were amongst the first Vhavenda clans to initiate and circumcise their men. These two clans became known, and are still known, as vhafumbisi, circumcision surgeons. Makhado was therefore the first Singo prince to be circumcised, but not the first Muvenda to be circumcised.
When Makhado came from the circumcision school, he was rejected by his brothers for being circumcised. He felt isolated and went into hiding. He was later approached by Rasivhetshele and Funyufunyu who asked him to join them as an assistant to Boer hunters who hunted elephants for ivory. Makhado agreed to this arrangement and joined hunting parties. This is where Makhado learnt firearm handling. He and other Vhavenda assistants also managed to secretly accumulate a lot of firearms and ammunition whenever they were sent on hunting expeditions in summer without Boer supervision. The Boers were reluctant to go on hunting expeditions in summer due to the fact they could not navigate the terrain during the rainy season, which was also the season of tsetse fly and malaria-bearing mosquitoes in the areas north of the Soutpansberg mountain range.
Vhavenda who went on hunting expeditions on their own in summer would bring back ivory, but claim to have lost some of the firearms and ammunition. But Makhado was preparing for war since he disliked the fact that the Boers continued to demand labour and tribute from Thovhele (king), and mahosi (senior chiefs). The Boer demand was alien to Tshivenda culture since only subjects and magota (headmen) could render tribute to mahosi while the mahosi themselves rendered theirs to Thovhele (king) and not to anybody else.
While at Vuvha and trying to consolidate his hold on a nation that had gone through civil war, and whose land was being encroached by the Boers, Ramabulana fell ill. As there was no sign of recovery, Davhana secretly removed his father from the palace, and accommodated him in a humble residence outside the royal headquarters. Davhana had given instructions for the dwelling to be erected, for Ramabulana to receive treatment in isolation. Ordinary people and relatives, including vhomakhadzi (paternal aunts) and makhotsimunene (paternal uncles) were forbidden to visit him. As the closest relatives were not told why they could not have access to their ruler, an aura of suspicion surrounded the prevailing situation.
When Ramabulana was in seclusion, Davhana was in charge of royal affairs. He became the de facto king since his father was incapacitated. Eventually Ramabulana passed on in 1864.
A traditional Venda village (Source: http://www.ezakwantu.com)
Ndi Singo ḽa ha Tshivhase! Muḓuhulu wa Raluswielo! Ramaphosa, muposa misevhe vhaṅwe vhe u fhalala yawe ya sala yo ima! Thavha dza Khalavha ngedzilaa dzo naka nga mvula! Takutshedzani nga mufhululu Masingo, ṋanga dza tshikona ndi kale ro tsheṱa. Ahee, Maṱamela, Ahee!
Dzata I – SINGO KINGDOM
Mwali instructed vhotshifhe to install one of Tshikalange’s sons, Hwami , as the new king. Hwami led his people across the Vhembe River and settled in the Nzhelele valley. Hwami’s royal kraal was on Mount Lwandali and was known as Dzata (known today as Dzata I). Hwami subjugated most Vhangona clans including their king, Raphulu.Hwami was, according to this version, succeeded by Dimbanyika. Dimbanyika was a hunter.
One day he went out hunting but never came back. But his two dogs went back home. A search party, led by one of his dogs, was dispatched the following day to look for him. The dog led the search party to a cave. The opening of the cave was filled with huge rocks which were impossible to move. After trying unsuccessfully to move the rocks, they were addressed by Dimbanyika. He told them to stop trying and that the cave would be his grave.
He instructed them to take Ngomalungundu and move the capital since nobody would be allowed to live on Mount Lwandali. He forbade people from eating fruits from Lwandali. He also gave instructions that the son of Rambwapenga and his descendants must remain on Mount Lwandali to tend his grave and to be guardians of Lwandali. Lwandali became known as Tshiendeulu, meaning royal graveyard. The son of Rambwapenga and his descendants became known as Netshiendeulu, meaning the owner/ruler/custodian of Tshiendeulu.
Dzata II – THOBELA KINGDOM
The Singo moved to the south west of Lwandali and built a new capital, Dzata II. Up to this day the descendants of Dimbanyika are not allowed to face the descendants of Netshiendeulu since it is believed that the descendants of Netshiendeulu possess supernatural powers bestowed by Dimbanyika. When Khosi Netshiendeulu goes to Dzanani to pay tribute to the Mphephu-Ramabulana King the two have to converse not facing each other. They are also separated by a wall, and they both need to have their backs against the wall that separates them. This practice is also due to the belief King Dimbanyika and the son of Rambwapenga (Netshiendeulu) could not see each other when Dimbanyika was trapped in the cave, and when he was issuing instructions.
The Mphephu-Ramabulana King is also, therefore, supposed to issue instructions to Khosi Netshiendeulu without the two seeing each other’s face.Dimbanyika was succeeded by Dyambeu. The remaining Vhangona clans, Vhambedzi and Vhalembethu of Ha-Mutele and Makhahani (Thulamela) were also conquered.Dyambeu died when he was attempting to subjugate the Vhatavhatsindi of Tshiheni and Tshiavha (where Lake Fundudzi is found).
Dyambeu is said to have underestimated the Vhatavhatsindi and decided to subjugate them without the use of Ngomalungundu. He, therefore, instructed the six Vhandalamo men who carried Ngomalungundu to hang it on a plum tree. Ngomalungundu is said to have fallen from the plum tree, touched the ground and cracked while the Singo were busy fighting the Vhatavhatsindi.
This led to the defeat of the Singo by Vhatavhatsindi, and the broken Ngomalungundu was taken by the Vhatavhatsindi. King Dyambeu was killed. This was the first defeat of the Singo by any of the Vhavenda clans.Vhatavhatsindi took Ngomalungundu to their royal kraal, Tshiheni.Mwali, the Great God of the Singo made contact with Tshishonga, the Chief Priest and gave him a golden pipe which had similar powers to those of Ngomalungundu.Tshishonga led the Singo army to conquer Vhatavhatsindi. The Singo army set up its base camp at a place known today as “Mudavhi wa Tshishonga” (Tshishonga’s field).
The Singo army defeated Vhatavhatsindi with the help of the magical golden pipe given to Tshishonga by Mwali. The Singo also managed to get hold of Ngomalungundu and took it back to Dzata.Through conquest the Vhangona and Vhambedzi came to revere and fear Ngomalungundu. They regarded this drum as the Voice of their Great God, Raluvhimba. By the late 19th century Vhavenda had to come to think of Raluvhimba and Mwali as interchangeable names for the same deity, although they had once been separate.
The Singo were, with time, absorbed culturally and linguistically by Vhangona and Vhambedzi clans, the clans they conquered. The conquerors’ descendants owe much of their present identity to the earlier inhabitants of Venda, Vhangona and Vhambedzi. It is believed that about 85% of present day Tshivenda words and vocabulary come from the original Tshingona. But the conquerors also transmitted a great number of Karanga traits.Today nobody knows where Ngomalungundu is.
Some say that King Thohoyandou took it with him when he disappeared without trace. Some people believe that Thohoyandou crossed the Vhembe River into Vhukalanga, and that is where he died. A museum in Harare, Zimbabwe, has the remains of an old drum, and the curator claims that it’s Ngomalungundu. The curator says that the drum was donated to Bulawayo Museum by a Venda-speaking man in the 1930s.(Article from soma Anthropology)
The Vhangona Kingdom
The original inhabitants of Venda are Vhangona, and Vhambedzi. Vhangona are estimated to have settled in Venda as early as the 6 th century. It is also believed that about 85% of present day Tshivenda words and vocabulary come from the original Tshingona.
According to one version of Vhangona oral history, the capital of Vhangona was Mapungubwe with the Raphulu Royal House as the most senior royal house of the Vhangona. According to this version the Vhangona Kingdom was made of +-145 chiefdoms.It is said that the Kingdom was divided into seven districts: Dzanani; Mbilwi; Tswime; Tshiendeulu; Tshakhuma; Tshamanyatsha and Thulamela.
These districts were ruled by District Chiefs:(Mahosi): Neswongozwi/Neluvuvhu (Dzanani); Nembilwi (Mbilwi); Netswime (Tswime); Netshiendeulu (Tshiendeulu); Netshakhuma (Tshakhuma); Netshamanyatsha (Tshamanyantsha); andMakhahani (Thulamela).Districts consisted of chiefdoms which were governed by Vhamusanda (Junior Chiefs) who paid tribute to Mahosi.
This tradition states that one of the Vhangona Kings was King Shiriyadenga whose royal kraal was at Mapungubwe. It is not clear if this Shiriyadenga is the same Shiriyedenga of the Sanga dynasty, a Karanga-Rodzvi branch. The Sanga dynasty, in Zimbabwe’s eastern highlands, was founded by Chiphaphami Shiriyedenga who died in 1672.Different clans such as Vhatwanamba, Vhatavhatsindi, Vhanyai, and Vhalembethu settled in Venda from around 1200.
Vhatavhatsindi settled in present day Thengwe, Tshiheni, and HaMabila. Vhatwanamba settled in present day Mapungubwe, Musina, Ha-Tshivhula, HaMadzhie, Ha-Matshete, Ha-Mulambwane, and Ha-Lishivha. Vhalembethu and Vhanyai settled at Ha-Mutele, and Thulamela. These groups did not seek to impose their rule over all Vhangona.The clan that conquered Venda and went about imposing its rule over every clan it found in Venda was the Singo (also known as Vhasenzi).
The Singo are believed to have settled in Venda in the early 1600s. The Singo were accompanied by Vhalaudzi, Vhandalamo and Vhalemba. The Singo fused all clans in Venda into one nation known as Vhavenda. But how did the Singo manage to conquer and subjugate all clans in Venda?Exodus: To The Promised LandAccording to the Singo tradition, the Singo came from the Great lakes in Central Africa (present day Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda and the western side of Tanzania).
This tradition states that the Singo had a magic drum known as Ngomalungundu. This was a sacred drum of Mwali (Mwari), the Great God of the Singo. Ngomalungundu was the spear and shield of the Singo. Mwali is believed to have worked miracles with this drum which had magic and killing powers. In fear of Ngomalungundu, other groupings surrendered to or fled from the Singo killing powers. It is said that the Singo king, when they were in Central Africa, was Tshilume (Ratshilumela). His royal kraal was known as Matongoni. He is said to have been instructed by Mwali to move southwards. Mwali told him that he should use Ngomalungundu to subjugate the people whose land he would conquer.
A replica of Ngomalungundu, Dzata Museum: Dzata.The leader of the Vhandalamo was the custodian of Ngomalungundu. Ngomalungundu was, according to Mwali’s instructions, not supposed to touch the ground. It was supposed to be carried by six Vhandalamo or Vhalemba men when moving from one place to the other and when the Singo were in combat. It was also, when not being moved or used, supposed to be placed safely at a place where it would not touch the ground.VhukalangaThe Singo left the Great Lakes for Venda. They reached Vhukalanga (Zimbabwe) and settled for a while amongst Vhakalanga (Karangas) in present day Matabeleland.
The king of Vhakalanga at the time was Tshivhi who was feared and highly respected by his people and neighbouring nations. Tshilume sent messengers to the Tshivhi to tell him not to worry about the presence of the Singo since the Singo were on their way to the south. But Tshivhi’s intelligence officers had already warned him about the Singo and their magic drum. So when Tshilume’s messengers arrived at Tshivhi’s palace to extend a hand of friendship, Tshivhi thought that they were there to attack him. Tshivhi’s men attacked Tshilume’s messengers.
Tshilume’s messengers went back to their king to tell him that they were attacked by Tshivhi’s men. Tshilume dispatched his warriors to go and attack Tshivhi with the help of Ngomalungundu. It is said that a lot of Tshivhi’s warriors were killed and Tshivhi was captured and taken to Tshilume. Tshivhi apologised to Tshilume and was set free. Tshivhi went back to his palace where he was later killed by a group of women who were angry that their husbands and sons were killed as a result of Tshivhi’s decision to attack the Singo. This is where the following verse in one of Tshivenda poems came from:Tshivhi ndi ndau khulu.
Yo ofhiwa nga vhanna, ya vhulawa nga vhasadzi. Yowee! Vhanna vho ladzwa lwa u sa vuwa nga Ratshilumela wa Mwali”.(Tshivhi was a great lion that was feared by men, but was killed by women. Men were killed by Ratshilumela (Tshilume) of Mwali)The Singo forgot that they were supposed to move to the south and settled permanently in Vhukalanga. They even intermarried with Vhakalanga and Vhanyai. This incensed Mwali and he punished the Singo by sending lions to kill a lot of people, including royal princes and princesses. King Tshilume went to Mount Mubvumela to perform religious rituals to appease Mwali, but he never returned.From Vhukalanga to VendaAfter some days Mwali is said to have summoned vhotshifhe (high priests) to Mount Mubvumela.
There he told them that Tshilume would not be coming back since the people had disobeyed Mwali’s instructions by intermarrying with Vhanyai and Vhakalanga and settling permanently amongst them. He told vhotshifhe that Tshilume’s only surviving son should be the new Singo king. He was given the title of Tshikalange since he was crowned king of the Singo in the land of Vhakalanga.The Singo moved southwards and reached the banks of Vhembe River (Limpopo River). They settled in the Vhembe valley awaiting further instructions from Mwali. Unfortunately King Tshikalange died of malaria before crossing to the other side
Motloung Clab Praises:
Motloung wa sekgoane, motho wa tsatsi la sejake. Ya honeng dinta Falla dile qolong ya Kobo.
Mafuyeka,
Sibambo,
Samisa,
Nkongwana,
Mzilazembe,
Mtsentana,
Lusekwana,
Wena lokwahluma mngani emini kamaNdlakazi!