Nyawo, SoneneSoneneNyawo2024-07-232024-07-232024978-3-98989-000-8https://fis.uni-bamberg.de/handle/uniba/96497African women theologians, using gendered lenses, challenge the pervasive rhetoric that depicts African women as inferior, inexpressive and docile. These theologians are committed to magnifying the whimpering voices of African women victims and survivors of the patriarchal wrath, irrespective of their religious associations. Amongst them are African matriarchs, whom we hold in high esteem as founders and earliest champions of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians (hereafter the Circle). Through research and publication, these founders have mad historical contributions towards the expansion of the Circle since its inception in 1989. As torch bearers, they have continued to swim against the patriarchal tide, and denounced hierarchies that promote power imbalances between women and men. Now, it is time to celebrate their role in shaping the membership of the Circle into strong, resilient and resourceful women. Some of these champions might have changed residence, and are in the other world, whilst others have aged to remember their contribution. Retrieving their insights is more to recognise that they still speak to our hearts and minds. This chapter is therefore an exploration of five (5) selected works of Joyce Vilakati, a feminist literary critic who engages with historical texts to discover the hidden voices of women, whilst exposing patriarchal beliefs and stereotypes that relegate women to the periphery.engFeministshistorical textsinterpretationpatriarchy and Joyce Vilakati230bookpart