indaba means A tribal conference held by Nguni leaders. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 86 out of 100.
Why this word is great
INDABA — [Noun] A conference or meeting, especially one involving discussion of important matters, traditionally rooted in Zulu tribal councils. From Zulu índaba ("affair, issue, matter; piece of news; story"), composed of ín- (class 9 noun prefix) + -daɓa (stem meaning ‘affair, matter’). Unlike "symposium" (which gathers experts in stiff chairs) or "debate" (which pits voices against one another), an indaba is the slow, deliberate weaving of voices into a single thread. It is the elders seated in a circle beneath the broad shade of a baobab, the rhythmic call-and-response of communal problem-solving, the quiet pause before a decision settles like dust after rain—a reminder that some truths emerge only when spoken together.
noun
- A tribal conference held by Nguni leaders.
- Any conference, discussion, or meeting.
- Chiefly in one's own or someone's indaba: a concern, matter, or problem.
- An international conference of Scout leaders.