Basic Venda Words and Meanings
The Venda or Bavenda people are found mainly in part of the Limpopo province, situated in the extreme northeastern part of South Africa. This area used to be known as the Republic of Venda between 1979 to 1994, and it borders Southern Zimbabwe. Another unique aspect of the Venda people is their language. The language is spoken by about 1.2 million native speakers and 1.7 million second-language speakers. The Venda language is also known as Luvenda or Tshivenda, and it originated from the Bantu language. Some Venda words are also similar to the Kalanga language spoken in Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Like any other language, Venda comprises several words that help people express themselves completely. While some Venda words and phrases have direct meanings when translated, others could mean different things and are understood based on context. Some common Venda words and their meanings are written below to help the language learners.
We had seen how to say good morning and good night earlier, but there are many other words and phrases for greeting. We will look at them here.
Historically, the Venda people were known for their diverse cultures, but today, they are a uniformly cultural people known for intense agricultural activities. The people cultivate mainly sorghum, corn (maize), beans, peanuts (groundnuts), peas, and vegetables, and the planting season starts around October.
One unique culture of the Venda people that anyone visiting there should know is their belief in the sacredness of lakes and rivers. They also believe that rainfall is controlled by the Python God. The Fundudzi is one of the most sacred lakes in Venda. This is where the ‘Domba Python Dance’ is held every year. During this ceremony, an offering of beer is poured into the lake, and young maidens dance like snakes in a single long winding line. This usually marks the last stage of their initiation into womanhood. The Domba ceremony also opens doors for good rain in the next season, as the people of Venda believe.
