Dear Wikimedians,
After an impactful maiden edition of the Africa Wiki Challenge last year, we are elated to announce the second (2nd) edition of the campaign. The contest calls on all African Wikimedians (individuals, organizers, affiliates, etc.) in and out of the African continent (including diaspora) to contribute to this year’s Africa Wiki Challenge. Interested persons should kindly fill out this form for regular updates about the campaign.
The contest is themed under different concepts annually. We kicked off the campaign with the theme “landmarks in Africa ''. This year with suggestions from our community members, and participants of the maiden edition, “African Culture” was selected as the theme for the contest.
Description of the theme:
Africa is undoubtedly bestowed with a tremendous and beautiful culture. Despite the fact that every country has its unique way of living, we are consolidated by our poetic culture and driven by inspirations from each other.
Are you content with how Africa’s culture is being represented on the web?? How do you feel when you surf the internet to look for information on certain elements of our culture and find close to nothing?? This is the perfect opportunity to help bridge the content gap about Africa on the web, specifically Wikipedia.
This theme is targeted at not just projecting Africa’s culture as a whole, but also to serve as an inspiration to write our own story. Submissions will range from individuals, structures, activities, stories, and other elements that make up the culture of Africa. Just to mention a few;
Tribes: Traditional groups or societies like Ga Adangbe tribe of Ghana, Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania, and more. Their political systems and kinship systems
Festivals: Festival celebrations like the Homowo festival in Ghana, the Sango Fire festival in Nigeria and Umkhosi Mhlanga in South Africa and more.
Food: Elements of African food like recipes, foodstuffs, origin of food, traditional food, and more.
Marriages: Components of African marriage like marriage ceremonies, marriage process, traditional marriages, marriage rites, and more.
Rites of passage: Diverse African rites like birth rites, puberty rites, funeral rites, and more.
The aim of this challenge is to document virtually everything culturally significant about Africa.
We, by this email, invite you to participate in this contest!
As a community organizer, we encourage you to lead your community to organize/participate and share more about the campaign in your country or region. Help us in organizing this project in your respective communities/countries by performing any of the following activities;
SignUp via this form
Hosting virtual/in-person edit-a-thons (taking into consideration the Covid-19 guidelines)
Hosting virtual office hours to provide support before/during and after the campaign
Organizing volunteers to translate communication materials
Creating localized campaign pages on meta for local coordination (coordination in your country)
Designing communication materials and promoting them on social media to encourage participation.
Organizing media drives and participation for the campaign
Share, share and share the campaign flyers and other materials!
Individuals can also participate in the general AWC writing contest.
For Help & Support join our AWC telegram page
Moreover, Community Organizers who are interested in holding an activity that requires support in terms of funding can request a Rapid grant between Now and March 2022.
Kindly visit and keep an eye on the campaign meta page for more information (page still under construction) and sign up your community if you intend to participate. Join us to create or improve articles or add photos to illustrate articles about African Culture!
Kindly note that we are still in the early preparatory stages of the campaign. You will be updated with further details in due course.
Kind regards,
Communications Officer
Open Foundation West Africa