Festivals & Events

1. Tshikona

   Tshikona (royal reed-pipe dance)

   Usage

   The signature Venda dance with reed pipes played together. It is performed at important occasions such as the installation or funeral of a chief, and is not a tourist show

   Grammar Note

   The corpus says "Tshikona tshi lila musi hu tshi khou vhewa khosi" (it sounds when a chief is installed). "lila" means to sound

2. Tshigombela

   Tshigombela (a Venda song and dance form)

   Usage

   A Venda song and dance form, counted among the songs sung on joyful occasions

   Grammar Note

   The corpus lists it among songs for joyful occasions: "Malende na Tshigombela khathihi na dza Tshikona". The corpus does not say who dances it or how, so none is stated here

3. Malende

   Malende (a kind of Venda song)

   Usage

   A type of Venda song sung on festive occasions, often with drums and other instruments

   Grammar Note

   The corpus says "Nyimbo … dzi katela Malende na Tshigombela" (the songs include Malende and Tshigombela). "nyimbo" means songs

4. Musevhetho

   Musevhetho (dance of young women and men)

   Usage

   A ceremonial dance of young women and men that the corpus lists among dances the Venda took over from other peoples. It is not a spectacle for visitors

   Grammar Note

   The corpus says "Musevhetho ndi ngoma i no tshinwa nga vhasidzana na vhatukana" (a dance performed by girls and young men). "ngoma" means dance or drum

5. Domba

   Domba (young women’s initiation dance)

   Usage

   A ritual dance performed as young women come of age. It is a private ceremony, not something to ask to watch or photograph. A descriptive card only

   Grammar Note

   The corpus calls it "ngoma ya u fhedzisela ya Vhasidzana" (the last dance of the girls). It gives no details of the rite, and none are given here

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