Iolaus violacea, the violaceous sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Shaba and Tanganika), north-eastern Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania (Ukerewe Island and Lake Victoria) and possibly western Mozambique. The habitat consists of Brachystegia woodland. The larvae feed on , , , , , , , , , , and .