indaba

{{Short description|Conference of the Zulu and Xhosa of South Africa}}

{{for|the Scouting event|World Scout Indaba}}

{{Use South African English|date = October 2023}}

{{wiktionary}}

An indaba ({{IPAc-en|ɪ|n|ˈ|d|ɑː|b|ə}}; {{IPA|xh|íⁿd̥a̤ːɓa}}{{Cite web |url=https://forvo.com/search/indaba/zu/ |website=forvo.com |access-date=21 November 2024 |title=indaba [zu] 1 pronunciations (Zulu pronunciation) |publisher=Forvo Media S.L., Rentería (Spain)}}) is an important conference held by the izinDuna (principal men) of the Zulu and Xhosa peoples of South Africa.{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Indaba |volume=14 |page=371}}{{Cite web|url=http://qz.com/572623/this-simple-negotiation-tactic-brought-195-countries-to-consensus-in-the-paris-climate-talks/|title=This simple negotiation tactic brought 195 countries to consensus|date=12 December 2015 }} (Such meetings are also practised by the Swazi, who refer to them using the close cognate {{wikt-lang|ss|indzaba}}.) Indabas may include only the izinDuna of a particular community, or they may be held with representatives of other communities.

The term "Indaba" comes from the Zulu and Xhosa languages. It means "business" or "matter".{{cite book|last=Pettman|first=Charles|title=Africanderisms; a glossary of South African colloquial words and phrases and of place and other names|year=1913|publisher=Longmans, Green and Co.|page=225|url=https://archive.org/stream/cu31924026563795#page/n245/mode/2up}}