2025:Program/Performance of the WikiChoir

Session title: Performance of the WikiChoir

Session type: Entertainment

Track: Wild Ideas

Language: en

The 'WikiChoir' is an international group of Wikimedian singers who come together to perform a short East African song for the Wikimania closing ceremony. If you like to sing, please join us – we will get you all set for the performance!

Description

In the spirit of this year's Wikimania theme, "Inclusivity – Impact – Sustainability", the 'WikiChoir' will perform a short piece of East African music during the Wikimania closing ceremony. The performance will attempt to honour the musical traditions of East Africa, Kenya, and Nairobi.

All Wikimania participants are invited to join and sing along – just bring your voice to the conference, and make sure to attend the (short) rehearsal. Ideally, please also let us know in advance if you want to sing along so that we can select a suitable song, and send you the sheet music that meets your skill level ahead of the conference.

We will invite a local choir director from Nairobi to teach us the music, as well as a Wikimedian pianist and a Wikimedian percussionist to accompany us.

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

Traditionally, the Wikimania opening and/or closing ceromonies include a 'cultural exhibition' of music and/or dance typical to the location hosting Wikimania that year.

In the spirit of this year's Wikimania theme, "Inclusivity – Impact – Sustainability", we want to propose a new and collaborative approach to this tradition by inviting members of the community to join the 'WikiChoir' to perform a short piece of East African music during the closing ceremony together.

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

Everyone can participate in this session

Speakers

• Gnom

Hi, I am Lukas Mezger, a media and IT lawyer and amateur clarinetist from Hamburg, Germany. I've been a Wikipedian since 2005, and most of my editing takes place on German Wikipedia.