Giyani

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Giyani is a town in the Limpopo province in northern South Africa, and former capital of the Gazankulu bantustan. Giyani is located on the northern bank of the Klein (Little) Letaba River west of Kruger National Park. Situated in what was the northern portion of Gazankulu, Giyani was established in the 1960s as the administrative centre for the Tsonga and Shangaan peoples.

Residents of Giyani speak Xitsonga as their first language. The Tsonga women dance Xibelani and the men enjoy Makhwaya. The Tsonga people also engage in a custom dance called Mchongolo. Xibelani is an African skirt. Xibelana is a skirt design to make your hips look bigger so the shaking can be apparent. The Tsonga people have their own distinct music where the Xibelani dance is extensively enjoyed and it became a custom for all Tsonga bands to have female Xibelana dancers. The latest dances in Giyani are Xibebula and Tshetsha.

At Giyani there's a big parliament building which was built because of [King Hudson Majeje Ntsanwisi]], former chief minister of Gazankulu, who was a hero in Northern Province, which is now called Limpopo. Dynamos FC team is based in Giyani, and is in the Premier Soccer League; the owner of Dynamos FC is Mr Pat Malabela. In Giyani there is a popular hospital which the neighbouring towns like Malamulela rely on, called Khensani Hospital. The population around Giyani is estimated at 4 500 000 and 200 villages.

Giyani is also a place of highly talented artists.There is a number of upcoming hip-hop bands such as G.Skwad, R.O.P (Kwaito group) and very talented rappers emerging such as 19 DAWK, Rouxman, Musecho, James, Mr. T.O & Bon GZ etc.. There are also well-known artists such as Mabasa John, a very talented young artist in sculpuring. He made a big sculpture of the Former President Nelson Mandela. The sculpture is at Giyani Information Centre.

Coordinates: 23°19′S 30°43′E