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Nesengani Clan — History & Meaning

Venda clan · Tshivenda

History & origin

Nesengani descends from the Davhana lineage, itself rooted in the Mukwevho/Vhatavhatsindi line of the Luonde-Luvhola area. Nesengani was the son of Chief Davhana, who had left Luonde, crossed the Muhohodi and Luvuvhu rivers and settled at Mpheni on Mount Luvhola, where Davhana died in 1894 and acknowledged Makhado as king of Venda. Nesengani succeeded his father; his sons were Kolokoshani and Maatamela. After Nesengani's death the Boer administration split the Davhana chiefdom into Ha-Nesengani (under Kolokoshani) and Ha-Davhana (under Maatamela). The Nesengani chiefdom originally lay around Mbokota, Nwashinyamane and Chabani; its people were later forcibly removed to Tshino (today's Ha-Nesengani) when the old area was declared a Tsonga-Shangaan zone.

Associated surnames

Surnames that share this clan: Davhana, Mukwevho, Kolokoshani, Maatamela, Vhatavhatsindi.

We publish the full clan names (clan praises) only once we can verify them against documented tradition — for this clan they are still being confirmed. If you can share an authoritative version, corrections are warmly welcomed.

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