Heritage Day: Venda South Africans
South Africa celebrates National Heritage Day on 24 September 2015. We are a proud Rainbow Nation with 11 official languages across our beautiful country, and today we take a look at all our unique cultures that make us one of the most diverse countries in the world.
The Venda (Vhavenda or Vhangona) are a Southern African people living mostly near the South African-Zimbabwean border. The bantustan of Venda was created to become their homeland.
The Venda people, like their Tsonga neighbours, are South Africa’s minority groups.
Population: Approximately 1 million (2011 Census)
Languages: Venda
Famous Venda people: E.S. Madima, Cyril Ramaphosa, Tenda Madima
Regions where Venda people live: Limpopo, and other northern parts of South Africa.
Traditional attire: Traditionally in the Venda culture, the Venda wore only clothing made of skins which were obtained by hunting.
The Vendas believe in the ancestors living with the living, so clothes that are believed to be sacred, represent these ancestors. Around the neck of a Venda lady, a series of beads and amulets may be worn, often very old, each of which is associated with an ancestral spirit.
These are passed down through generations as sacred trust and to part with one is to risk immediate retribution from the ancestral realm.
Watch these videos of the Venda South African culture:
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 072 435 7717.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
- We have exciting news! We’re offering a free alert to help you always be in the loop. Send an email with the word ‘Subscribe’ to breakingnews@rekord.co.za to receive your free daily breaking news update.
