lekgotla means A consultative process between groups pursuing a common goal. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.
Why “lekgotla” is a great word
LEKGOTLA — [Noun] A formal consultative meeting for strategy or dispute resolution, rooted in the traditions of Southern African communal deliberation. From Tswana lekgotla, meaning "a public place where consultation and judicial proceedings are conducted"; also borrowed from Southern Sotho and Northern Sotho. Unlike a bosberaad (which suggests a private, managerial retreat) or a generic meeting (which implies mere assembly), a lekgotla is an architecture of consensus, where authority is negotiated through dialogue. It is the circle of elders on sun-baked earth, the patient unspooling of grievance until only understanding remains, and the slow alignment of many paths into one forward road—a ritual reminder that a decree can be issued by one, but a decision that endures must be forged by many.
Etymology
From Tswana lekgotla (“a public place where consultation and judicial proceedings are conducted”).
noun
- A consultative process between groups pursuing a common goal.“'Cabinet held its second lekgotla for the year on 23-25 July 2001. The mid-year meeting was aimed at reviewing the implementation of the programme government announced at the beginning of the year'.”