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.

From The Guardian

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

From The Guardian

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

From The Guardian

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

From Reuters

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

From Project Gutenberg