Makoti ke Dinako is performed during wedding processions in many parts of South Africa. An African wedding usually takes two days, one day for each family. The first day’s festivities take place at the bride’s family and the second day’s festivities take place at the groom’s family. This song is sung by the bride’s party as they accompany her to meet the groom while regaling her with last minute advice and asking her to decide if she is making the right choice in her new husband and family.
Makoti is not specific to a particular South African culture, it is a word used for a new bride. The country is filled with rich and diverse ethnicities, including 11 official languages (that include many more dialects and cultures). This blend of culture is mostly prominent in the townships and metropolitan cities of South Africa because of the inevitable blending of cultures in the areas.
Many South Africans have family lineages of more than one culture, for example, you can find a family that has a father who is Zulu and a mother who is Venda. As such, many wedding songs that exist cannot be categorized as deriving from a specific ethnic group. The song Makoti Ke Dinako includes words from SeSotho and isiZulu languages.
Makoti, ke dinako. Bride, it is time.
(Wa jika jika?) (Are you getting cold feet?)
Makoti, wa sala nah? Bride, are you staying behind?
(Wa jika jika?) (Are you getting cold feet?)
Makoti, ke dinako. Bride, it is time.
(Wa jika jika?) (Are you getting cold feet?)
Makoti, wa gana nah? Bride, are you refusing?
(Wa jika jika?) (Are you getting cold feet?)
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