indaba

[ in-dah-bah ]

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

Origin of indaba

1
1890–95; <Zulu indaba, izindaba (with implosive b) matter for discussion, affair, account

Words Nearby indaba

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use indaba in a sentence

  • The indaba had dropped; but now Pandulu, who had spoken but little before, seemed anxious to revive it.

    Forging the Blades | Bertram Mitford
  • The indaba began upon small matters, a recent dispute or two as to the ownership of cattle, or of land commonage, and so forth.

    Forging the Blades | Bertram Mitford
  • The ears of the outside attendants were by no means deaf, however, and now they came crowding up around the scene of the indaba.

    Forging the Blades | Bertram Mitford
  • They sit in a consultative gathering known as an indaba, and discuss the civil and military affairs of their tribe.

  • After that the "indaba" or talk began, which I do not propose to set out at length, for it is a matter of history.

    Marie | H. Rider Haggard

British Dictionary definitions for Indaba

Indaba

/ (ɪnˈdɑːbə) /


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

  2. Southern African informal a matter of concern or for discussion

Origin of Indaba

1
C19: from Zulu: topic

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012