Musical Instruments of Venda
Venda, Vhufuli · 1981-11-13
Official first day cover (FDC) · South African philately
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This cover is postmarked on 13 November 1981 in Vhufuli, with a special postmark depicting a kudu horn. It carries the Venda musical instruments set, SAPO [number to confirm], four stamps depicting the mbila, phalaphala, tshizambi and ngoma. Each instrument carries its own specific cultural role rather than being purely decorative, the phalaphala horn, for instance, was traditionally blown by the chief's messenger to summon people to meetings or to call them out for the ploughing of the chief's fields. The ngoma drums, meanwhile, were carved specifically from marula wood and came in three distinct sizes, each with its own name and role within a chief's kraal.
Description of the Cachet
The cachet is a close-up illustration of a mbila, the Venda's plank-and-resonator xylophone, shown set within a decorative round frame bordered with carved wooden and shell motifs. The instrument's tuned wooden keys are laid out in a row, resting above a series of pale calabash resonators, all rendered in warm wood tones with careful attention to the grain and shading of each element.
Information Card
For centuries the Vhavenḓa have made and used a variety of musical instruments. Their whole culture revolves around music in some form or another and music is inherent in everyday life in Venḓa. From early childhood a Muvenḓa is taught to play different musical instruments. Some of these, such as the dende, tshihwana, tshizambi and mbila, are mostly played by boys whereas others, such as the lugube, are played by girls. The most important ritual instrument is the drum (ngoma), which is found only in a chief's kraal. Drums are essential to chiefs and headmen in the fulfilment of their traditional and cultural obligations towards their people. Mbila — 5c stamp This instrument is used only in a chief's kraal. It is a type of xylophone, made of strips of teak wood attached to a frame beneath which is fitted a series of calabash or tins that serve as resonators. The instrument is played by striking the strips of tuned wood with rubber-headed sticks, a favourite pastime of the old men whose duty it is to welcome visitors to the chief's kraal. Phalaphala — 15c stamp The phalaphala is a wind instrument made of the horn of a kudu or an eland. It is blown by the chief's messenger to summon his people to meetings, or for the ploughing of the chief's fields (dzunde). Tshizambi — 20c stamp This string instrument is made of a carved stick bent to form a bow, with a playing string made of plaited strips of dried palm leaf (mulala). Ngoma — 25c stamp The ngoma is a set of drums of three sizes: the large dumbula (bass drum) and the smaller mutungwa and murumba. The drums are carved from the wood of the marula (Sclerocarya caffra), a tree that grows throughout Venḓa. The stamp portrays the first and second drums (dumbula and mutungwa) played by women at a chief's kraal.
Theme: Other
Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.
Addressed: No
Signed: No
Estimated value: ~US$0.1
This is a high-level, subjective estimate only, not a professional appraisal.
This first day cover (FDC) is part of Southern Covers, a private collection of 223 first day covers documenting the postal history and philately of South Africa and the homeland states. New to first day cover collecting? Read the guide to learn about cachets, postmarks, and stamp collecting terms, or browse the whole collection of Southern African FDCs.
