“Your dedication, leadership, and commitment to helping our Wikimedia communities within the Movement will always be remembered.”

Hello dear Wikimedians,

Wikimedia Tanzania and Jenga Wikipedia ya Kiswahili User groups are in particular, deeply saddened following the passing of our beloved fellow Wikimedian Ingo Koll (user: Kipala), who according to the information shared by his wife with us, he has passed away on the 10th July 2023 at his house in his home country, Germany.

Ingo Koll was a German who happened to live in Tanzania and Kenya for many years. Being a pastor and a lecturer, he learned Swahili and became one of the super-active Swahili Wikipedia contributors and administrators. He was a reliable cornerstone in the development of Swahili Wikipedia. He was a knowledgeable person who collaborated closely with the Astronomy and Space Science Association of Tanzania (ASSAT) to contribute much on Astronomy topics in Swahili language on Swahili Wikipedia, was one of the great mentors who helped the formation of Wikimedia Tanzania and also was a co-founder of Jenga Wikipedia ya Kiswahili (Build Swahili Wikipedia).

Tanzanian and East African Wikimedians benefited much from his unwavering support, leadership, mentorship, and coaching when it came to training them on Wikimedia projects, especially about Wikipedia. 

Wikimedia Tanzania, Jenga Wikipedia ya Kiswahili User Groups, and all other Wikimedians who interacted with him within the Wikimedia Movement will always remember his valuable contributions to the Movement.

May his soul rest in peace. Amen!

#RIP #INGOKOLL

On behalf of Wikimedia Tanzania and Jenga Wikipedia ya Kiswahili,