Find the word definition

Wikipedia
InDuna

InDuna (plural: izinDuna) is a Zulu title meaning advisor, great leader, ambassador, headman or commander of a group of warriors. It can also mean spokesperson or mediator, as the izinDuna often acted as a bridge between the people and the king. The title was reserved for senior officials appointed by the king or chief and was awarded to individuals held in high esteem for their qualities of leadership, bravery or service to the community. The izinDuna would regularly gather for an indaba to discuss important issues.

Amongst the Ndebele the term was also used to collectively refer to a group of elite soldiers operating under a specific inDuna.

The term has found widespread use in South African English and Afrikaans, and it is a common reference to boss or lead person. In modern times the terms Chairperson and inDuna are sometimes used interchangeably.

Usage examples of "induna".

He became a notorious Matabele induna, and slew hundreds of defenceless Mashona during his depredations.

He became a notorious Matabele induna, and slew hundreds of defenceless Mashona during WHO his depredations.

I want every chieftain and elder of the tribe there to see me wed, I want every counseller and induna, I want the king of the Zulus himself to come and when they are all assembled, I will speak to them.

But before he could do so, there was a great war between the white men, and Taka' Taka went north and fought against the German induna called Hamba-Hamba, "the one-who-marcheshere,and,there,and,is-never caught "Von Lettow'Vorbeck," Craig translated, "the German commander in East Africa during the 1914-1918 war.

They say that the old indunas decided to wait for the divine intervention of the spirits, to leave the road southwards open for the white men to leave Matabeleland and to sit upon their shields until these things come to pass.

An hour later he had visited one of the traders and exchanged the cart and the other meagre possessions he no longer needed for a good rifle and one hundred rounds of ammunition, and he sat the broad comfortable back of the mule, its head pointed southwards, as it skirted the granite hills of the indunas.

Every man of them except Bazo wore the headring of the induna, and their names were the rolls of glory of the Matabele nation.

Be sure that she is virtuous and fruitful, and let her first duty be to set the headring of the induna on your brow.

He had been granted the headring of the Induna when he was still a young man of less than thirty summers, and had become one of the highest elders in the council of the nation.

He told them how Mzilikazi, great with plunder, fat with cattle, had come back to Thabas Indunas, arriving suddenly with the blood barely dried on the spears of his impi, and red rage in his art.