12/08/2025
Tshikona is a traditional Venda dance often called the Venda royal dance because it’s historically performed for important occasions, especially those involving kings or chiefs.
Here are the key points:
Purpose & Meaning: Tshikona is more than entertainment — it’s a cultural ceremony that unites communities, celebrates heritage, and shows respect to traditional leadership.
Instruments: It’s performed with a special set of long bamboo pipes (milatho), each pipe producing a single note. Players must work together to create the melody, so the dance is also a lesson in unity.
Dance Formation: Men play the pipes and dance in a winding, snake-like line, while women often join in with clapping, singing, and ululation to encourage the performers.
Occasions: Performed during royal events, harvest celebrations, cultural festivals, and rituals marking significant community milestones.
Symbolism: The snake-like formation represents the connection between people and the land, as well as the continuity of life and tradition.
It’s considered one of the most important cultural expressions of the Venda people — and if you’ve ever heard the pipes together with the drums and voices, you know it’s unforgettable.
