Dyambeu

Dyambeu, also known by the praise-name Vele-la-Mbeu, is the Singo king raised to the throne by the prime minister Tshishonga after the murder of his elder brother Bele. He is remembered above all for parcelling out the kingdom among his sons, founding the great chiefly houses of Ravhura, Tshivhase (Raluswielo), Rambuda and, at Dzata, the paramount line of Thohoyandou. In one branch of the Ngoma-lungundu epic it is Dyambeu who brings the sacred drum to grief: marching against the Vhatavhatsindi near Lake Fundudzi and choosing not to sound it, he has the drum hung on a plum tree, from which it falls, strikes the ground and cracks, so that its power is broken for ever. Sources differ on the order and deeds of the early kings, and this episode is elsewhere told of other rulers.

Parentage

• parent: DimbanyikaN. J. van Warmelo (ed.), Contributions towards Venda History (1932). (primary)

Children

• Thohoyandou

Domains

• kingship
• war

Powers

• divide the realm among his sons
• wield the drum Ngoma-lungundu in war

Relations

• parent: DimbanyikaN. J. van Warmelo (ed.), Contributions towards Venda History (1932). (primary)
• sibling: BeleN. J. van Warmelo (ed.), Contributions towards Venda History (1932). (primary)
• ally: TshishongaTshishonga installed him as king.N. J. van Warmelo (ed.), Contributions towards Venda History (1932). (primary)
• child: ThohoyandouN. J. van Warmelo (ed.), Contributions towards Venda History (1932). (primary)

Sources

• Dyambeu, younger brother of Bele, was enthroned by the prime minister Tshishonga and divided the kingdom among his sons Ravhura, Raluswielo (Tshivhase), Rambuda and Phophi/Masindi (Thohoyandou).: N. J. van Warmelo (ed.), Contributions towards Venda History, Religion and Tribal Ritual (1932). (primary)
• One strand of the Ngoma-lungundu tradition holds that Dyambeu died attacking the Vhatavhatsindi near Lake Fundudzi and that the sacred drum then fell and cracked, losing its power.: E. Mudau, 'Ngoma-Lungundu', in van Warmelo (ed.) (1932). (primary)