About Thohoyandou

Thohoyandou, whose name means "head of the elephant" in Venda, was established in 1977 and became the capital of the former Venda bantustan in 1979, built on land where the Netshiluvhi people had lived before apartheid-era displacement. Today it sits in Limpopo's Vhembe District, at the heart of a lush agricultural region producing bananas, subtropical fruit, tobacco and maize. The University of Venda, founded in 1982, is the town's major institution, drawing students and staff from across the region and anchoring a fast-growing local economy alongside the newer Thavani Mall shopping centre. With Venda spoken by the large majority of residents, the town remains the cultural and administrative centre of the Venda people.

Thohoyandou's calendar blends academia with family fun into the new year. The University of Venda hosts the 6th Annual International Corporate and Financial Markets Law (CFML) Conference this stretch, while families can head to the KIDS FUN ZONE EVENT at the Botanical Gardens on Halloween weekend. Makonde answers with its own festive gathering, MAKCITY VIBES: Summer Fiesta, and Christ Worship House follows with the AFC Music ZA God of the breakthrough Live Concert. December brings the ESP Family Day Charity Music Festival to Fulufhelo Special School.