Indaba
Encyclopedia
An indaba is an important conference held by the izinDuna
(principal men) of the Zulu and Xhosa peoples of South Africa
. (Such meetings are also practiced by the Swazi, who refer to them using the close cognate indzaba.) These indabas may include only the izinDuna of a particular community or may be held with representatives of other communities.
The term comes from a Zulu language
word, meaning "business" or "matter".
movement. The World Scout Indaba
was a gathering of Scout leaders.
The Archbishop of Canterbury
, Rowan Williams
, used the expression when he announced, in April 2008, a move away from plenary meetings voting on formal resolutions for bishops attending the 2008 Lambeth Conference. He introduced "middle sized groups for discussion of larger issues", saying:-
"We have given these the African name of indaba groups, groups where in traditional African culture, people get together to sort out the problems that affect them all, where everyone has a voice and where there is an attempt to find a common mind or a common story that everyone is able to tell when they go away from it. This is how we approached it. This is what we heard. This is where we arrived as we prayed and thought and talked together."
There is one indaba that takes place annually in South Africa and is meant as a gathering of all those involved in the African tourism industry. The tourism INDABA is one of the top three tourism marketing events on the global calendar and most certainly the largest in Africa and it attracts thousands of delegates, visitors and media representatives from across the globe. This Indaba takes place in Durban each year and the 2009 dates are from 9–12 May.
InDuna
InDuna is a Zulu title meaning advisor, great leader, ambassador, headman, or commander of group of warriors. It can also mean spokesperson or mediator as the izinDuna often acted as a bridge between the people and the king...
(principal men) of the Zulu and Xhosa peoples of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. (Such meetings are also practiced by the Swazi, who refer to them using the close cognate indzaba.) These indabas may include only the izinDuna of a particular community or may be held with representatives of other communities.
The term comes from a Zulu language
Zulu language
Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
word, meaning "business" or "matter".
Current usage
The term has found widespread use throughout Southern Africa and often simply means gathering or meeting. It is also used in the ScoutingScouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
movement. The World Scout Indaba
World Scout Indaba
The World Scout Indaba was a gathering of Scout Leaders from around the world, a sort of World Jamboree for Scouters. Created at the 1949 12th World Scout Conference in Elvesaeter, Norway, the British Scout Association submitted that of the great number of Scouters working in a Pack, Troop or Crew,...
was a gathering of Scout leaders.
The Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, Rowan Williams
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
, used the expression when he announced, in April 2008, a move away from plenary meetings voting on formal resolutions for bishops attending the 2008 Lambeth Conference. He introduced "middle sized groups for discussion of larger issues", saying:-
"We have given these the African name of indaba groups, groups where in traditional African culture, people get together to sort out the problems that affect them all, where everyone has a voice and where there is an attempt to find a common mind or a common story that everyone is able to tell when they go away from it. This is how we approached it. This is what we heard. This is where we arrived as we prayed and thought and talked together."
There is one indaba that takes place annually in South Africa and is meant as a gathering of all those involved in the African tourism industry. The tourism INDABA is one of the top three tourism marketing events on the global calendar and most certainly the largest in Africa and it attracts thousands of delegates, visitors and media representatives from across the globe. This Indaba takes place in Durban each year and the 2009 dates are from 9–12 May.