indaba

American  

[in-dah-bah] / ɪnˈdɑ bɑ /

noun

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

---

Indaba British  

/ 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

---

Etymology

Origin of indaba

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

Example Sentences

If the great indaba finally does begin, it could founder all too quickly because the fundamental aims of the two main parties are so far apart.

From Time Magazine Archive

For now, the first one is to convene the indaba.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last month Buthelezi opened a historic indaba, or meeting, between whites and blacks to discuss guidelines for creating in his home state of Natal the country's first completely multiracial government.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then he described so exactly the indaba which we had witnessed—the Great Great One and I—that it seemed he must have been present concealed on the spot where we had lain and listened to it.

From The White Shield by Mitford, Bertram

When a lot of the people came to indaba us, he kept asking whether they might not mean treachery, or had arms concealed under their blankets.

From In the Whirl of the Rising by Mitford, Bertram