Tshikunde, Maermu

Tshikunde, Maermu Daniel

b. January 1923, Gogogo, Thohoyandou district

South African musician. Tshikunde began his career as a policeman in Germiston in 1967, though resigned from the force in 1974 in order to focus his attention on becoming a preacher. In his work as deputy bishop for the United African Apiostolic Church, Tshikunde came into contact with various Venda communities and their musical traditions. He is recognized as a leading expert on Venda music, and is often sought out on account of his knowledge of and performing expertise on traditional Venda instruments such as the mbiladza madeza (‘hand piano’), the tshihwana (a stringed instrument) and the dende (a stringed instrument with calabash).

Venda folk songs were usually taught aurally. However, with many Venda people moving to the cities, their traditions of singing, instrumental playing and dancing is in danger of becoming extinct. In order to prevent this loss of indigenous knowledge, Tshikunde has devoted himself to documenting and transcribing Venda music and traditions.

Mudzunga Junniah Davhula