A Conundrum of Makoti in the Light of Proverbs 31:10-31: Decolonising Mislaid ‘African Patriarchy’
Mmamajoro Phalatsi-Shilubana 
Issue: Vol.10 No.4 April 2024 Issue Article 2 pp. 73-84
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20241042| Published online 5th April, 2024.
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
The ideal wife, according to Proverb 31, is far more indispensable in any given society and plays a far less walk-over role in her marriage. Conversely, the highly recognised African term makoti, which originates from abroad (Dutch culture), reduces a newlywed to slave status, at least when understood from its linguistic context. This is because, according to the literature that is currently available, the term makoti originates from either the “Dutch/Afrikaans” phrase Maak ons tee, which roughly translates to “make us tea.” Consequently, when considered in light of Proverb 31 woman, the term makoti, as used in most African cultures, becomes problematic. This paper aimed to refute colonialist notions of African makoti by first describing the African daughter-in-law or recently married woman in the context of Proverb 31. Methodologically, through the employment of the decolonial theory and literature review, it confirmed that the esteemed African term makoti originates in Dutch culture rather than the African patriarchal corpus. The primary finding of this study was that, contrary to the stereotype of makoti that has been fortified by colonial context, the real African daughter-in-law is more akin to a Proverb 31 woman. The study concluded that correcting falsehoods like these contributes to the restoration of African culture’s dignity and the veracity of African history, while also challenging the continued colonial narratives that marginalize African women. This study enhances and contributes towards the decolonial agenda by dispelling stereotypes that misplace makoti as an invention of African culture.
Keywords: Colonisation, Decoloniality, Religion, Culture, Patriarchy, African Makoti
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Dr. Mmamajoro Phalatsi-Shilubana is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UNISA’s Research Institute for Theology and Religion. She holds a D.Phil (Theology) from UNISA, Masters’ Degree in Education (UJ), a BA in Social Sciences (UL), and a Tertiary Education Diploma (UFS). She holds a certificate in Monitoring & Evaluation from the University of Stellenbosch. She has extensive experience in Research and Policy development and implementation. She is involved in community development projects, focusing on advocacy and interventions (Girls and young women empowerment, Addictions and HIV related issues) both as a volunteer and a Researcher. Her field of focus is Practical theology. Pursuit of new knowledge and its impact in improving lives is what drives her. She believes that improving communities and organisations is what births great leaders.
Phalatsi-Shilubana, Mmamajoro. “A Conundrum of Makoti in the Light of Proverbs 31:10-31: Decolonising Mislaid ‘African Patriarchy’,” E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies, 10 no.4 (2024): 73-84. https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20241042
© 2024 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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