iqabane, noun

/ˌiǂaˈbaːne//iˌkaˈbɑːne/
Forms:
iqabane, qabaneShow more singular iqabane; singular and plural qabane; plural amaqabane, amaqabani, amaquabane, maqabane, maqabanes.
Also with initial or medial capital.
Plurals:
usually amaqabane or maqabane.
Origin:
IsiXhosa, isiZuluShow more Probably originally isiXhosa, subsequently also isiZulu, ‘friend’, ‘companion’: singular prefix i- + -qabane, from qabana be close friends (literally ‘paint, smear each other’), qaba paint, smear + reciprocal suffix -ana (cf. qaba). For notes on plural forms, see ama-, i- and ma- prefix3.
Usually in the plural, as a collective term: the comrades, see comrade. Also attributive.
1985 E. Prov. Herald 8 Oct. 3Youths were enforcing the consumer boycott through manning..‘maqabane roadblocks’, meaning comrades’ roadblocks, where passing cars were being stoned if they failed to stop.
1986 Cape Times 3 Jan. 9The ‘fathers’ had abducted at least three ‘maqabanes’ (comrades)..and were holding them prisoner in a shipping container in Crossroads.
1986 Learn & Teach No.3, 2In New Crossroads near Cape Town, the ‘fathers’ beat the ‘maqabane’ because ‘maqabane’ said people must boycott white shops.
1988 K. Mkhize in Frontline Feb. 12He explained: ‘...Where I stay..you meet someone at night who greets you “Qabane, Qabane heyta!” Whatever you do, you may receive a bullet hole...If you deny you are a qabane then you are in trouble if the strangers are in fact comrades.’
1988 J. Sikhakhane in Pace Nov. 61In other townships around Durban..vigilante groups called ‘amabutho’ or impi, were allegedly responsible for deaths and attacks on the amaqabane, mostly youths belonging to the UDF, or politically neutral.
1989 Frontline Apr. 11‘Nobody is neutral...If you are not a member of Inkatha then you are an iQabane.’ I said: ‘You mean everybody must either be Inkatha or UDF?’
1990 Weekly Mail 9 Mar. 9He saluted the crowd with the novel ‘Viva Maqabane!’ The crowd was too goodnatured to care much and responded enthusiastically.
1990 Weekend Argus 29 Sept. 1The youths, mostly in African National Congress T-shirts and calling themselves ‘amaqabani’ (comrades), were addressed by four special constables.
Usually in the plural, as a collective term:the comrades, see comrade. Also attributive.
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IsiXhosa
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ipiti, nounn.iron, nounn.
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