Vhambedzi in the sources
Wikipedia’s Venda people article lists the Vhambedzi, also written Vha ha Tshinyike, and says that they and the Vhangona were the original inhabitants of Venda and the first people to live there.
What the sources say
The Know My Roots blog calls the Vhambedzi a Vhangona clan, says their headquarters were at Marungudzi in Zimbabwe and that in Venda they were concentrated at Tshulu (Ha-Makuya), Mianzwi, Tshilavulu and Makonde, and gives their prominent chief as Luvhimbi, said to have had rain-making powers. The Luonde site also lists them among the Vhangona. Neither gives a source.
The Commission’s determination on the Vhavenda kingship claim does not mention the Vhambedzi.
Cautions
Everything beyond the Wikipedia sentence rests on two uncited community sites. We found no confirmed totem or praise text.
Izithakazelo and totem
We are printing no Vhambedzi praises or totem because none has been confirmed. If you belong to the Vhambedzi 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)
See also Vhangona and Masingo.
Do you belong to the Vhambedzi? 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.