Event:Africa Wiki Women-14th Wikidata Birthday Celebration
Wikidata 14th Birthday Celebration with Africa Wiki Women
Celebrating African Women Shaping Open Data and Knowledge
🌍 About the Celebration
[edit]In celebration of Wikidata’s 14th birthday, Africa Wiki Women is bringing together African women Wikimedians, new contributors, community organizers, Wikimedia partners and open-knowledge enthusiasts to celebrate the contributions of African women to open data and knowledge.
The celebration builds on Africa Wiki Women’s continued efforts to improve the representation and visibility of African women on Wikidata through community-led campaigns, edit-a-thons, training, mentorship and collaborative initiatives.
Since 2024, Africa Wiki Women’s Wikidata activities have contributed to significant improvements in the representation of African women in linked open data.
749
Wikidata items
created in 2024
3.76k
Wikidata edits
recorded in 2025 campaigns
9.06K
Wikidata edits
recorded in 2026 initiatives so far
In 2026, initiatives including EditHer, Give to Gain and the Newbie Community have already contributed 9.04K Wikidata edits, with more contributions expected through ongoing activities.
The 14th birthday celebration will provide an opportunity to reflect on this journey, celebrate contributors, share experiences and strengthen the network of African women contributing to Wikidata.
✨ Why We Are Celebrating
[edit]African women remain underrepresented in many areas of linked open data, including biographies,occupations,achievements and professional records.
Through its Wikidata-related initiatives, Africa Wiki Women continues to work with contributors across the continent to help address these gaps and make African women's knowledge, identities and contributions more visible and discoverable.
The birthday celebration is therefore more than a celebration of Wikidata's anniversary. It is an opportunity to:
- Celebrate African women contributing to Wikidata.
- Highlight progress in improving gender representation in open data.
- Share experiences and lessons from community-led Wikidata initiatives.
- Recognize outstanding contributors and community efforts.
- Strengthen connections among African women Wikimedians.
- Inspire continued participation in Wikidata and the wider open knowledge movement.
🎉 Celebration Activities
[edit]The celebration will bring together online and in-person activities across Africa.
Bringing together contributors and communities from across Africa to celebrate Wikidata's 14th birthday.
🎥 Contributor Stories
Highlighting the experiences, journeys and achievements of African women contributing to Wikidata.
🏆 Recognition
Recognizing outstanding contributors and community efforts that are helping improve African representation in open data.
🤝 Community Networking
Connecting African Wikimedians to share knowledge, experiences and strategies for closing data gaps.
📍 Where We Are Celebrating
[edit]Africa Wiki Women will coordinate celebrations across participating African communities.
| Country | Host / Organising Group | Activity | Date | Format | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | Africa Wiki Women | Wikidata 14th Birthday Launch | 03/10/2026 | Online | To be confirmed |
| [Country] | Africa Wiki Women / Local Organiser | Wikidata 14th Birthday Celebration + Video Documentary | TBC | In person | To be confirmed |
| [Country] | Africa Wiki Women / Local Organiser | Wikidata 14th Birthday Celebration + Video Documentary | TBC | In person | To be confirmed |
| [Country] | Africa Wiki Women / Local Organiser | Wikidata 14th Birthday Celebration + Video Documentary | TBC | In person | To be confirmed |
| Africa | Africa Wiki Women | Wikidata Birthday Podcast | TBC | Online | Planned |
| Africa | Africa Wiki Women | 10 Women Celebrating Wikidata Video Campaign | TBC | Online | Planned |
👩🏿💻 Who Can Participate?
[edit]The celebration welcomes:
- African women Wikimedians
- New and experienced Wikidata contributors
- Community organizers
- Wikimedia partners
- Students, educators and researchers
- Anyone interested in closing gender data gap on Wikidata and promoting open data
Whether you are an experienced Wikidata contributor or completely new to Wikidata, there is a place for you in the celebration.
🎬 Featured Campaigns
[edit]The celebration will also highlight stories and contributions from Africa Wiki Women's Wikidata initiatives, including:
- Africa Wiki Women-Wikidata Birthday Contest 2024
- Africa Wiki Women-Wikidata Birthday Contest 2025
- Other community-led campaigns and initiatives contributing to the representation of African women on Wikidata.
📸 Gallery
[edit]Photos from the celebration will be shared on Wikimedia Commons.