indaba

[in-dah-bah]

noun

1. a conference or consultation between or with native peoples of South Africa.

Indaba

/ ɪnˈdɑːbə /

noun

1. anthropol history (among Bantu peoples of southern Africa) a meeting to discuss a serious topic

2. informal,  a matter of concern or for discussion

Word History and Origins

Origin of indaba¹

1890–95; < Zulu indaba, izindaba (with implosive b ) matter for discussion, affair, account

Word History and Origins

Origin of indaba¹

C19: from Zulu: topic

Example Sentences

The French hosts also won praise from negotiators for using a mixture of informal huddles, or indabas, and traditional shuttle diplomacy to bring the deal home.

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According to veteran negotiators the indabas had made sure every country felt their views had been heard.

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Negotiators also met in small informal group huddles, or “indabas” as they are known in the climate negotiations.

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The indaba did narrow differences, reducing 900 bracketed points of contention in the draft text to about 300 before the last session.

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Cronje stopped and cantered back again, seeming to hold an indaba with his petty officers.

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