Re: Using Silence in Meetings LO2895

Mr Crispin Hemson (HEMSON@MTB.und.ac.za)
Wed, 20 Sep 1995 14:04:31 GMT +0200

Replying to LO2844 --

I'd like to qualify what Michael McMaster says about "indaba". This
is a Zulu word meaning, variously, a matter for discussion, a story,
a scandal or (more recently, in the plural), news. In the first
sense it is normally understood in the context of a meeting where, as
he says, there is a high value on talking an issue through until
there is consensus.

However, consensus was and is constrained in two ways. First, in a
more traditional context, eventually a chief might feel justified in
imposing his view if total consensus could not be achieved. And out
of deference some members would hold back their comments if they
disagreed with a standpoint taken by the chief. But generally the
idea was that the chief would hear out the discussion before pushing
for a particular position.

Secondly, voting was not excluded as a way of testing opinion, and it
is increasingly used.

In practice, "indaba" is still used even in an urban context with
that association. In meetings (my experience would be in a sports
club), there is now a strong emphasis on being democratic, being
understood both as hearing all opinions before making a decision
(more concern for this than amongst most non-Zulus), and
the rule of the majority. Of course, in spirit there is some
contradiction between these two understandings.

--
        ***********************************************
        Crispin Hemson
        Department of Adult and Community Education, 
        University of Natal, Private Bag X10, Dalbridge, 
        4014 South Africa
        Phone: (31) 260-2008    Fax: (31) 260-1168
        e-mail: hemson@mtb.und.ac.za
        ***********************************************