The Dagada clan is an offshoot of the Nemakhavhani clan which in the early 1800’s domiciled at Ha-Mudimeli in the Nzhelele in the Vhembe District of Limpopo in SA.

This offshoot left Ha-Mudimeli as a battalion of fighters under the leadership of Mavhungu Nemakhavhani for Dzimauli in the Rambuda territory to help Thovhele Tshikosi Rambuda of the Rambuda dynasty during his battles with the neighbouring Thengwe dynasty over the Lumvulini river boundary.

He was deployed by the Dzanani Dynasty. Mavhungu Nemakhavhani was not called Dagada then . Dagada is actually a nickname which he was named by Thovhele Tshikosi Rambuda for his gallant warding off of the Nethengwe fighters.

Dagada is a shortened version for ‘Ida gada’ loosely meaning ‘come trouble’. Tshikosi was praising him saying that he was a fighter who withstood the Nethengwes.

After defeating the Nethengwes, Nemakhavhani was honoured by being made a headman(vhamusanda) for Guyuni village whose border with the Thengwe territory is the Lumvulini river. Guyuni was earlier administered by a female vhamusanda Nyakhakhu who was Tshikosi’s concubine who was recalled when Nemakhavhani with a new name,.

Dagada was enthroned vhamusanda at Guyuni. He didn’t return to Ha-Mudimeli.