Vhalembethu in the sources
Wikipedia’s Venda people article names the Vhalembethu (also written Vhanzhelele / Vhalembethu) among the Karanga-Rodzvi clans from Zimbabwe that later settled on Vhangona land. The Luonde site likewise lists them among the later Karanga-Rozvi settlers.
What the sources say
The Know My Roots blog says the Vhalembethu and the Vhanyai occupied all of eastern Venda, and that the king Dimbanyika later subjugated the Vhalembethu of Ha-Mutele and Thulamela. It cites no source, and we have not checked the claim elsewhere. See our Vhanyai and Masingo pages.
Cautions
The subjugation story rests on one uncited blog. We found no confirmed totem or praise text.
Izithakazelo and totem
We are printing no Vhalembethu praises or totem because none has been confirmed. If you belong to the Vhalembethu 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)
- Luonde: Brief History (a community site; no author or bibliography 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 Vhalembethu? 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.