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)