indaba

[ in-dah-bah ]

/ ɪnˈdɑ bɑ /

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noun

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

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showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

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Origin of indaba

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

Words nearby indaba

incurve, incus, incuse, incyclophoria, Ind, indaba, indagate, indamine, indanedione, Indanthrene, indapamide

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

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.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 5|Various

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

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

Southern African informal a matter of concern or for discussion

Word Origin for Indaba

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