A new book by local author Robert Rakhadani, a Venda traditionalist, author, and president of the Vhangona National Cultural Movement, is stirring conversation across clan lines by claiming to present what he calls the most complete and balanced account yet of the Vhavenda story.
Titled U Ḓivha Makhulu ndi u Vhudzwa, the publication traces the nation from its earliest origins through cultural life, settlement patterns, and economic activity, to detailed discussions about the rise and reach of Mapungubwe.
Rakhadani believes the work does more than simply plug the gaps left by earlier publications.
“One of my main aims was to narrow the knowledge and information gap,” he said, arguing that no other single volume gathers such a wide sweep of material about the nation.
He maintains that the narrative has been broadly welcomed. According to him, readers from different groupings, including academics, have not raised objections—something he views as proof that the account is fair.
Because written references are limited, Rakhadani cast his net wide. He drew on oral accounts, community narratives, and whatever documentation he could find. Importantly, he says, many histories were sourced from the clans themselves, a method he believes reduced the risk of favouring one voice over another.
A large portion of the book revisits Mapungubwe. Rakhadani argues that for decades the kingdom’s story was hidden or distorted, and that even today reliable information remains hard to find.
His interpretation places the Vhangona at the centre of that civilisation and links their footprint to the wider subcontinent.
Rakhadani admits he initially worried that challenging long-held beliefs, including who should be regarded as senior in the traditional hierarchy, might make some leaders uneasy. But he says he felt compelled to push ahead in the interest of what he regards as historical truth.
Beyond politics and royal lines, the book includes idioms, proverbs, riddles, and customs. Rakhadani describes it as a practical guide that families can keep at home, not just a text for specialists.
Completing it, he said, took two demanding years, with sacrifices to family life, church commitments, and other projects. Still, he believes the effort was worthwhile if it encourages a new generation to interrogate the past.
Young people, he insists, should not treat his publication as the final word. They must challenge it, expand it, and dig even deeper.