Feminism and Folklore 2025 in Lagos - Report
The Feminism and Folklore 2025 in Lagos project was organized by the Wikimedians of Lagos User Group to address the underrepresentation of women and cultural knowledge on the Nigerian Pidgin Wikipedia. The project combined training, content creation, and mentorship to empower contributors to write about feminism, women’s biographies, and folklore in Nigerian Pidgin.
Objectives
[edit]- Improve the representation of women and gender-related topics on Nigerian Pidgin Wikipedia.
- Empower new and existing editors with the skills to contribute in Nigerian Pidgin.
- Create culturally relevant content using localized training methods.
- Sustain editor engagement through mentorship and recognition.
Activities
[edit]The project was implemented over five days with the following core activities:
Recruitment
[edit]Participants were recruited via the Wikimedians of Lagos WhatsApp group, the User Group’s X (Twitter) page, and other social media platforms.
Training Sessions
[edit]Five focused training sessions were held on:
- Wikipedia essentials and editing basics
- Evaluating sources and article drafts
- Citations, plagiarism, and media contribution
- Translating from English Wikipedia to Nigerian Pidgin
- Hands-on editing and content creation
Training was conducted primarily in Nigerian Pidgin, using the Outreach Dashboard, CampWiz tool, an Event registration tool and a dedicated on-wiki landing page.
Content Creation and Edit-a-thons
[edit]Participants took part in two days of collaborative article creation and translation activities focused on gender and folklore topics.
Review and Editing
[edit]All articles were reviewed and improved to meet Wikipedia standards. Peer reviews and mentor guidance were provided.
Results Achieved
[edit]- Significant increase in Nigerian Pidgin articles related to feminism and folklore.
- Enhanced capacity of new editors through hands-on, localized training.
- Positive engagement and enthusiasm toward editing in Pidgin.
- Strengthened community collaboration through peer learning and mentorship.
Learnings from Key Questions
[edit]1. Effectiveness of localized training methods: Training in Nigerian Pidgin improved accessibility and understanding. Participants reported greater comfort and engagement with the language of instruction.
2. Engagement and retention of contributors: Motivators included learning new skills, cultural pride, and community support. Mentorship and recognition were key for retention.
3. Improving gender-focused content: Challenges included sourcing reliable materials and maintaining tone in translation. Focused sessions on citations and translations were highly effective.
Unexpected Outcomes
[edit]- Positive: High interest in Pidgin editing and spontaneous peer-to-peer support.
Dissemination and Sharing
[edit]Project results and lessons are being shared through:
- Social media posts on X via the Wikimedians of Lagos User Group
- Follow-up community meetup to discuss learnings and next steps
Next Steps
[edit]- Develop a mentorship framework to sustain new editors
- Continue regular Pidgin Wikipedia events and edit-a-thons
Acknowledgements
[edit]Special thanks to all participants, facilitators, and community members who contributed to the success of the project. We appreciate the support from the Wikimedia Foundation and the global Feminism and Folklore team.