Joao Albasini

João Albasini
João Albasini's grandson, also called João Albasini
Born	1 May 1813 Portugal
Died	10 July 1888
Nationality	Italian
Awards	Portuguese Vice Consul to South Africa

The Albasini dam in Louis Trichardt, Limpopo Province, was named after João Albasini (1813–1888). Albasini was born to an Italian family, but according to tradition born in Portugal on a ship leaving for Africa – hence the Portuguese form of his first name. A passionate tradesman and big game hunter, Albasini came to Lourenço Marques in 1831. He revolutionised trade in the Lowveld more than a decade before the first settlers from European descent arrived there. Albasini set up trade routes and infrastructure that reached from the port at Lourenço Marques far into the mainland. Albasini supplied the Tsonga people with ammunition and rifles to protect themselves against other tribes. He also trained and employed 500 Tsonga men to hunt elephant for him, these 500 Tsonga men were all given hunting riffles or guns and Albasini did not control the supply of guns to these hunters because he trusted Tsonga people very well.

By contrast, Albasini will not give guns or ammunition to any other tribes other than the Tsonga people, the reasons were clear, Albasini did not trust anyone and he prohibited the supply of guns to any tribe except the Tsonga people. Albasini was a good friend and fellow of the Tsonga people, he was revered among them that they made him their honorary tribal leader and named their area Albasini village, which was later renamed Valdezia in 1875, he ruled supreme as a chief of the Tsonga people at Valdezia Village until his death in 1888.

In 1858 Albasini was appointed Vice Consul of Portugal in South Africa and was married to Gertina Maria Petronella, daughter of “Trekker” Janse van Rensburg.

Albasini later settled at Schoemansdal. He died in 1888 and was buried on Goedgewensch farm, near where the Albasini dam was built. João Albasini was the paternal great grandfather of prominent artist, the late Selma Albasini.

Joao Albasini has appointed all Tsonga chiefs in the Elim area, between the years 1845-1885, powerful Tsonga chiefs, such as Hosi Bungeni, Hosi Nhjakanhjaka of Elim, Hosi Mbhokota, Hosi Bokisi, Hosi Ndengeza and many more, were appointed as headmen by Albasini. The large Tsonga population in the Elim area today are a result of Albasini's policies of encouraging Tsonga immigration into the area, mostly between the years 1845-1895. Due to large scale Tsonga immigration into the Elim area, headmen were appointed (by Albasini) to help settle the thousands of Tsonga immigrants who arrived in the area as refugees from Mozambique. That is the reason why Albasini is famously known as the "White Chief of the Shangaan people".