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Vele Clan — History & Meaning
Venda clan · Tshivenda
Totem Singo royal house; associated totem Ndou (elephant) of the Singo/Masingo ruling line
History & origin
Vele derives from the Singo royal title 'Vele-la-Mbeu' (an adaptation of the Changamire/Rozvi kingly title rendered Chikurawadyembeu). Vele-la-Mbeu succeeded Dimbanyika (Dambanyika), the Singo conqueror regarded as the father/first king of the unified Vhavenda nation, ruling from the capital at Dzata in the Nzhelele valley in the early 18th century. Vele-la-Mbeu had four children recorded in tradition: a daughter Tshavhungwe and three sons, Phophi (who became the great king Thohoyandou), Tshisevhe, and Raluswielo (who became Tshivhase). The disputes among these houses after Thohoyandou's reign shaped the later division of Venda into the Ramabulana, Tshivhase and Mphaphuli kingdoms. The surname Vele/Vele-la-Mbeu therefore belongs to the senior Singo (Masingo) royal stock.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Singo / Masingo, Tshivhase (descended from Raluswielo Vele), Mphephu / Ramabulana, Tshisevhe.
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.