A is the senior paternal aunt (father's sister) of a Venda ruler or family head; the of a ruler was and is the most powerful woman in Venda society. The senior sister of a family head or ruler is called , and becomes to the successor. They play important roles in a ruler's succession, dispute resolution, girls' initiations, and religion.
When a ruler died, it was up to the and the (senior brother of the deceased ruler) to decide on a successor, and appoint the successor's and (senior brother and assistant ruler, usually to the next successor). The also advised on policy decisions, and was believed to have close relations with powerful ancestral spirits (believed to be able to affect the present). A led familial rituals which involved libation and prayers to ancestors; for the royal these were often public. Other roles include adjudicating on familial disputes, determining their family's marriages, and leading girls' initiation schools (, , , and ). In the Venda Kingdom, also took care of leaders' protective charms.