The village of Tshidimbini, situated outside Thohoyandou, was abuzz with traditional dancing during an event held at the chief’s kraal on Saturday, 10 April. The event had originally been initiated by the late Vhamusanda Tomboni Tshivhase from Tshidimbini and the late Raphalalani Sinyegwe from Vhutaulu village years ago, to strengthen the good relationship between the two villages. Tshidimbini’s current traditional leader, Vhamusanda Mukhesi Tshivhase, felt he wanted to continue with this tradition.

Tshikona and malende dancers made sure that everyone was thoroughly entertained and, like back in the day, the event was celebrated by the drinking of traditional marula beer. The late Tshivhase was a great promotor for marula beer as the leader of the Tshidimbini Mukumbi Co-operative, which helps rural women from the Vhembe region, where the marula fruits are found in abundance, to empower themselves economically by making and selling marula beer.

The event also recognised some fallen heroes in the Tshivhase dynasty, such as Thovhele Frans Rasimphi, Mphaya and Galanganzhele, who ruled in Tshivhase with good governance and respect for their communities.

Addressing the gathering, Thovhele Midiyavhathu Tshivhase said that traditional dances, such as the tshikona, tshigombela and malende, formed an important part of keeping the Vhavenda culture and tradition alive. “We appreciate Vhamusanda Mukhesi Tshivhase’s idea to initiate this historic event, which also gives us the day to sing traditional songs and dance traditional dances. With this celebration, we are also keeping our people out of trouble and away from criminal activities,” he said.

Vhamusanda Mukhesi Tshivhase was overjoyed to see the large gathering of people in his kraal. He said that promoting their traditions as was done by their forefathers was important. By doing so, he said, the future generations would know how things were done.

Tshivhase was also awarded the Thovhele Frans Rasimphi Mphaya Tshivhase award for four years of productive traditional leadership and good governance in his village.