Vhembe's own darling of traditional music and custodian of Venda folklore, Nnditsheni Esther Badzhi, is calling on the government and cultural activists to promote and encourage local artists to record more traditional music to preserve their traditional values.
On our visiting her at her home at Tshiseluselu village recently, the ever-smiling Badzhi told Limpopo Mirror that she had started dancing when she had been about five years old. As her parents and some of her other family members were traditional healers, she was trained to perform the domba, musevhetho and ngomani dances at traditional and cultural ceremonies, such as ladies' passage to womanhood.
Born in 1956 at Lufule village, Badzhi made headlines in the traditional-music industry when she released her debut album, called Bunumuthekhe, in 1998. Barely three weeks after its release, the title track could be heard on many radio stations almost every day, and she started receiving invitations to perform at various traditional functions all over the Vhembe District.
"My first album opened doors for me in the music industry. I was also performing every weekend. Even well-established recording companies started contacting me to join them, but I decided to do things on my own," she said.
Badzhi was eventually snapped up by the Tshivhase Dynasty's malende group to become their lead vocalist and dancer. She is now working on her fourth album, which is to be released later this year.
"Our traditional music keeps on reminding us about where we come from and also teaches the younger generation about their cultural values," she said.
Badzhi is the proud mother of a son and 12 grandchildren.