Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A council or meeting of indigenous peoples of southern Africa to discuss an important matter.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Among the natives of South Africa, a council or conference for the discussion of affairs.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An important conference held by leaders of the Zulu and Xhosa peoples of South Africa.
  • noun South Africa A problem, a concern.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a council at which indigenous peoples of southern Africa meet to discuss some important question

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Zulu ín-dàbà, affair, topic for discussion, conference : ín-, n. pref. + -dàbà, affair.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Zulu indaba.

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Examples

  • The indaba was the first such comprehensive interaction between the President and government on the one hand and the Big Business

    ANC Daily News Briefing 2003

  • The two-day indaba, which is being attended by representatives from all levels of government, ends on Friday.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 2002

  • The first was the significance of a climate in which every participant is guaranteed a hearing; some people were dismissive of the 'indaba' process, the method of organising group discussion in units manageable enough for everyone to speak, without pressure to produce an agreed statement – but the importance of this became apparent, if I may hazard a rather sharp judgement, in the light of how some other aspects of the Conference worked.

    Archbishop's Presidential Address 2009

  • We've called these 'indaba' groups, picking up an African word for meetings where significant questions are worked through in a community.

    Launch of Lambeth Conference 2008 2008

  • Each 'indaba' group brings together a number of smaller Bible study groups, who will be studying John's Gospel each day.

    Archbishop on the forthcoming Lambeth Conference 2008

  • So the new thing about Lambeth this time is that the whole body of the bishops will be divided into middle-sized groups, called 'indaba' groups, from a Zulu word describing community discussion and decision-making.

    Archbishop on the forthcoming Lambeth Conference 2008

  • The government will hold an "indaba" on the 2010 Soccer World Cup to iron out difficulties which could affect its success, it was announced on Tuesday.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 2007

  • Mwanawasa organized the forum, or "indaba," which ended late

    ANC Daily News Briefing 2003

  • Mwanawasa organized the four-day forum, or "indaba," to give

    ANC Daily News Briefing 2003

  • CS indaba which is the highest decision-making body of the civil process.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 2002

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