Vhakwevho in the sources
Wikipedia’s Venda people article lists the Vhakwevho among the clans it groups as the Vhangona, the earliest known inhabitants of Venda, and says no more. Two community sites describe them differently: as a sub-group of the Vhatavhatsindi who settled at Luonde and Luvhola.
What the sources say
That description comes from the Know My Roots blog and the Luonde site, which repeat each other and cite no sources. The Luonde site adds that the family name Neluonde, with the prefix “Ne” meaning ruler or owner of a place, signals Vhangona heritage, so Neluonde would be the ruler of Luonde. The Commission’s determination independently lists a Neluonde among the Vhangona traditional leaders named by the claimant Nephawe, which is consistent with that but does not connect him to the Vhakwevho by name.
The Luonde site also says Luonde is the settlement where Davhana, a son of King Ramabulana, sought the protection of the Portuguese trader Joao Albasini. We could not check that. See our Ramabulana page for the royal house.
Cautions
The sources differ on whether the Vhakwevho are a clan in their own right (Wikipedia) or a sub-group of the Vhatavhatsindi (the community sites). We found no confirmed totem or praise text.
Izithakazelo and totem
We are printing no Vhakwevho praises or totem because none has been confirmed. If you belong to the Vhakwevho 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 Vhakwevho? 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.