2025:Program/Afrika Baraza: Strengthening Regional Collaboration for a Thriving Wikimedia Movement in Africa

Session title: Afrika Baraza: Strengthening Regional Collaboration for a Thriving Wikimedia Movement in Africa

Session type: Workshop - 85 minutes

Track: Clubhouse Social

Language: en

As with the last two Wikimanias, Afrika Baraza at Wikimania 2025 will be a dedicated space for African Wikimedians to reflect on our collective progress, identify opportunities for growth, and strengthen collaboration under the Afrika Agenda. As we celebrate 20 years of Wikimania, this session will focus on how inclusivity, impact, and sustainability can drive Africa’s participation in the global Wikimedia movement.

Description

Foster regional collaboration by bringing together African Wikimedians to share best practices and success stories. Technical upskilling and capacity building: Empower African Wikimedians through training and WMF tech product demos and mentorship to foster sustainable growth. Celebrating our growth - share best practices and success stories. Discuss sustainable approaches to capacity building, funding, and community growth. Address digital access gaps and strategies for ensuring inclusivity in Wikimedia initiatives. Bridging the Digital Divide: Address challenges in internet access, language diversity, and infrastructure that hinder equitable participation. Content Representation: Develop strategies to increase high-quality African content across Wikimedia projects, ensuring our histories, cultures, and knowledge are well-documented. Sustainability & Partnerships: Explore funding models, institutional partnerships, and long-term strategies for community-driven sustainability.

How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?

We will discuss the impact, sustainability and growth of the Wikimedia movement in Africa and discuss ways that the movement could be more inclusive

What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?

Everyone can participate in this session

Speakers

• Winnie Kabintie

Winnie Kabintie, Movement Communications Specialist, Africa

• Lucy Iwuala

Iwuala Lucy is a language professional and Wikimedia contributor with expertise in Indigenous language advocacy, digital literacy, and cultural heritage preservation. A co-founder of Igbo Wiki Fan Club, Alvan and Imo State University under the Igbo Wikimedians User Group, where she organizes workshops and mentorship initiatives to promote Igbo language and content on Wikimedia projects. She is passionate about championing women’s digital literacy and community resource development. She is currently a member of the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Grant Committee, Member of ComCom, Member of the Afrika Baraza Working Group where she plays significant roles in the Production Team. Her engagements also extend to managing the social media channels of the International Wiki Loves Monuments campaigns and Wiki Loves Ramadan as well as contributing to global discussions on underrepresented languages.