Event:Yoruba Compound Names: A Cultural Heritage Documentation Project

Exploring the Cultural Heritage of Yoruba Compounds

• Overview & Training schedule
• Topic list
• Project Team
• Reports

This project aims to research, document, and preserve the names and stories behind Yoruba compound names, exploring their cultural significance, historical context, and role in shaping community identity. By capturing the essence of these names, we hope to promote cross-generational understanding, celebrate Yoruba heritage, and contribute to the preservation of Nigeria's rich cultural diversity.

Project Overview

Offa is a town renowned for its deep cultural roots, including its historical compounds, oral traditions, and iconic festivals like the Ijakadi Festival, which symbolizes the enduring spirit of unity and communal pride. Despite its cultural wealth, much of Offa’s heritage remains undocumented or underrepresented on global platforms. This project is a response to the urgent need for proper documentation and storytelling, ensuring these treasures are not lost to time but made accessible to a global audience. This project will:

1. Document Offa’s Cultural Heritage:
2. Comprehensive coverage of cultural activities during the Ijakadi Festival, including wrestling events, traditional dances, processions, and other festivities.
3. Uploading photographs, videos, and audio recordings that capture the essence of Offa’s traditions.
4. Creating a digital archive of oral interviews with community elders, cultural custodians, and other key stakeholders to preserve the stories and wisdom of Offa’s people.
5. Enhance Offa-related Content on Wikipedia and Sister Projects:
6. Improve and expand Wikipedia articles related to Offa’s history, landmarks, cultural practices, and prominent personalities.
7. Upload detailed information on Offa’s historic compounds, including the names, historical significance, and the stories behind their establishment.
8. Enhance Wikimedia Commons with high-quality media files, including photographs of compound arches, video documentaries, and audio recordings of the correct pronunciation of compound names.
9. Empower the Youth Through Training and Workshops:
10. Train 100 selected youth from Offa in Wikipedia editing, article creation, media uploads, and oral history documentation.
11. Conduct workshops on digital storytelling and the importance of preserving cultural heritage in the digital age.
12. Foster a network of Offa-based contributors who will continue documenting and preserving the town’s heritage beyond the project

Activities

• Cultural Documentation During the Ijakadi Festival:
• Media teams will cover every cultural activity during the festival, creating a rich repository of visual and audio content.
• Audio and video interviews with community leaders, festival organizers, and participants to capture personal stories and reflections on the festival’s significance.
• Historic Compound Documentation:
• A detailed cataloging of Offa’s compounds, ther histories, and the families behind them.
• Photographic documentation of each compound’s entrance arch and other distinctive features.
• Recording and uploading audio files for the pronunciation of compound names, accompanied by their historical context.
• Oral Interviews and Archival Efforts:
• Oral history interviews with cultural custodians, historians, and elders to preserve the unwritten heritage of Offa.
• These interviews will be transcribed, translated, and uploaded to Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia, enriching the available content with first-hand accounts.
• Training and Capacity Building:
• A series of workshops designed to equip participants with skills in Wikipedia editing, multimedia uploading, and cultural documentation.
• Participants will learn how to source verifiable information, write high-quality articles, and use Wikimedia tools effectively.
• Community-led Edit-a-thons and Campaigns:
• Collaborative editing sessions to improve and expand Wikipedia content on Offa.
• Social media campaigns to raise awareness about the project and invite global collaboration in documenting Offa’s heritage.