Vhafamadi in the sources
The Vhafamadi are listed in Wikipedia’s Venda people article among the clans grouped as the Vhangona, the earliest known inhabitants of Venda. The Know My Roots blog describes them as a sub-group of the Vhatavhatsindi who settled at Ha-Mashau.
What the sources say
The Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims records the Vhangona claimant Nephawe’s account that there are four Vhangona traditional leaders today, one of them “Vhafamadi of Mashao”. That agrees with the blog’s placing of the Vhafamadi at Mashau, though the Commission spells the place Mashao and does not describe the Vhafamadi any further. This is the claimant’s account as recorded, not a finding of the Commission.
We found no history of the Vhafamadi from the Vhafamadi themselves.
Cautions
Whether the Vhafamadi are a Vhangona clan or a Vhatavhatsindi sub-group depends on which of the sources you follow. We found no confirmed totem or praise text.
Izithakazelo and totem
We are printing no Vhafamadi praises or totem because none has been confirmed. If you belong to the Vhafamadi and recite your praises, we would like to record them, with your permission and credited to you.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Venda people (tagged as needing more citations; its clan list has no inline citations)
- Know My Roots: Venda Clan Names (community blog; no author or citations given, so treat as unverified)
- Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims: Determination on the Vhavenda kingship claim (the Vhangona account, pp. 608 to 609)
See also Vhangona and Masingo.
Do you belong to the Vhafamadi? Tell us your praises and what elders say about the history, and we will add it, credited to you. Share what you know or WhatsApp 065 138 8213.