Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Echoes of Ancestry:Traditional Rites Across Borders” Quand les traditions parlent, les frontières s’effacent. (ID: 23626168)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
ABORISADEADETONA
- Organization
N/A
- If you are a group or organization leader, board member, president, executive director, or staff member at any Wikimedia group, affiliate, or Wikimedia Foundation, you are required to self-identify and present all roles. (required)
N/A
- Describe all relevant roles with the name of the group or organization and description of the role. (required)
Main Proposal
[edit]- 1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.
Echoes of Ancestry: Traditional Rites Across Borders” Quand les traditions parlent, les frontières s’effacent.
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2025-06-11 - 2026-04-15
- 4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)
Benin
- 5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)
Wiki Loves Africa
- 6. What is the change you are trying to bring? What are the main challenges or problems you are trying to solve? Describe this change or challenges, as well as main approaches to achieve it. (required)
We aim to increase the representation of the Benin Republic and Nigeria and African traditions on Wikimedia Commons and other Wikimedia projects, which are currently underrepresented.Its important to state here that the newly UNESCO recognised Festival “SANGO: from the Southern part of Nigeria; and Osun Osogbo Festival were covered in high resolution (see sample) by our photographers, over 100 images have been processed, hence, we shall be uploading them on WikiCommons to commensurate with the Wiki Loves Africa with the theme “Rites and Rituals”. Moreover, Benin has a rich and diverse cultural heritage, including traditional music, dances, festivals, rituals, and crafts, but much of it is not well-documented online in freely accessible and reusable formats, in this regard. We are partnering with two identified groups of professional photographers from the Benin Republic to document the “Voodoo Festival and Wemewex Festival 2026 Edition all in the month of January 2026. Challenges Lack of awareness about Wikimedia projects in Benin Republic . Limited participation from local communities in contributing to an open source knowledge platform related to Benin traditions. Approach Organize workshops to train participants on how to contribute to Wikimedia Commons. Organize workshop on photography using mobile phones for inclusivity Partner with local cultural institutions, photographers, and folklore experts to gather
- 7. What are the planned activities? (required) Please provide a list of main activities. You can also add a link to the public page for your project where details about your project can be found. Alternatively, you can upload a timeline document. When the activities include partnerships, include details about your partners and planned partnerships.
1. Launch and Outreach Campaign Relevance to strategy: Developing promotional materials and collaborating with media/influencers effectively raises awareness and invites participation, ensuring a broader reach. Effectiveness: These activities ensure visibility, leveraging partnerships with influencers and local media to target the audience interested in folklore and cultural preservation. 2. Workshops and Training Sessions Relevance to strategy: Hosting workshops helps build capacity among contributors, which is essential for sustaining quality contributions to Wikimedia Commons. Effectiveness: Providing hands-on training and mentoring ensures new contributors can actively participate, reducing barriers to entry and fostering long-term engagement. 3. Photography and Media Drive Relevance to strategy: Partnering with cultural institutions and experts guarantees the quality and authenticity of contributions, directly addressing the campaign's goals. Effectiveness: Collaborations with local stakeholders enrich the content and encourage their communities to join the campaign. 4. Contest and Recognition Relevance to strategy: Promoting the contest and offering prizes motivate contributors, adding an incentive for participation and quality submissions. Effectiveness: Recognition through awards builds community pride and encourages continued involvement. 5. Follow-Up Activities Relevance to strategy: Creating a collection on Wikimedia Commons ensures the outcomes are well-documented and accessible for educational and cultural use. Post-event discussions enable learning for future initiatives. Effectiveness: These activities consolidate the campaign results and set a foundation for continuous improvement.
- 8. Describe your team. Please provide their roles, Wikimedia Usernames and other details. (required) Include more details of the team, including their roles, usernames, Wikimedia group, and whether they are salaried, volunteers, consultants/contractors, etc. Team members involved in the grant application need to be aware of their involvement in the project.
Our team consists of enthusiast members from the Wikimedians of Benin and Nigeria User Group . All Volunteers. Aborisade Adetola (Wikimedia Username: ABORISADEADETONA): Lead Organizer, responsible for overall coordination and grant management. as well as managing human resources, materials, and event scheduling.. Koutchika Lihouenou Gaspo Studios (Wikimedia Username: Josephkizito) Technical Support, responsible for managing platforms and technical needs during the event. as well as managing venues, materials, and event scheduling. Obayemi Boluwaife (Wikimedia Username: Obapeace):a librarian, Outreach Coordinator , Female gender, responsible for engaging with external communities, promoting the event and final report writting.
- 9. Who are the target participants and from which community? How will you engage participants before and during the activities? How will you follow up with participants after the activities? (required)
Target Participants Our project aims to engage a diverse group of participants, including: Photography enthusiasts and amateur cultural documentarians eager to contribute to Wikimedia platforms. Cultural practitioners, storytellers, and musicians from underrepresented communities across Benin republic and Nigeria. Students, academics, and researchers interested in Benin republic and Nigeria cultural heritage. Members of the general public who have a passion for preserving cultural traditions. In addition to individual participants, we plan to collaborate with cultural institutions and organizations such as the Oyo Alalafin Cultural Center, Fendika Cultural Center, Goethe-Institut Benin, and the Institute for Musicology at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. These partnerships, once established, will amplify our outreach efforts and ensure deeper engagement with diverse cultural groups. Engagement Strategies: Before Activities: Awareness Campaigns: Organize outreach activities, such as online forums, in-person visits to cultural centers, and promotional posts on social media platforms (Facebook, Telegram, Instagram, and X (formerTwitter). Collaborative Planning: Work closely with partner organizations to co-create activities that align with their goals while promoting Benin republic and Nigeria cultural heritage on Wikimedia platforms. For example, Goethe-Institut could host a pre-event discussion on the global significance of preserving Benin intangible heritage. Pre-Event Workshops: Conduct introductory sessions with communities and organizations to explain the objectives of Wiki Loves Africa, train participants on Wikimedia Commons, and outline ways to contribute effectively. During Activities: Training and Knowledge Sharing: Host interactive workshops on storytelling, photography, and multimedia contributions in collaboration with cultural experts. Field Engagement: Arrange field visits to cultural hotspots, such as Voodoo Cultural Center and indigenous Wemewex Festival sites, where participants can document music, dance, and oral traditions unique to Benin Republic. Creative Competitions: Encourage participants to contribute high-quality photographs, videos, and articles, offering prizes for exceptional contributions that align with the theme. Follow-Up: Post-Event Community Building: Establish a dedicated communication channel (via Telegram/WhatsApp) where participants can share updates, receive feedback, and collaborate on future projects. Recognition: Acknowledge participants' efforts through certificates of participation, awards, and public mentions on Wikimedia platforms and partner organizations' channels. Sustained Engagement: Organize post-event edit-a-thons and webinars, focusing on using the content collected to enhance Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata entries. Strengthening Partnerships: Closely collaborate with partner organizations for long-term folklore documentation initiatives, creating a foundation for annual Wiki Loves Africa events.
- 10. Does your project involve work with children or youth? (required)
No
- 10.1. Please provide a link to your Youth Safety Policy. (required) If the proposal indicates direct contact with children or youth, you are required to outline compliance with international and local laws for working with children and youth, and provide a youth safety policy aligned with these laws. Read more here.
N/A
- 11. How did you discuss the idea of your project with your community members and/or any relevant groups? Please describe steps taken and provide links to any on-wiki community discussion(s) about the proposal. (required) You need to inform the community and/or group, discuss the project with them, and involve them in planning this proposal. You also need to align the activities with other projects happening in the planned area of implementation to ensure collaboration within the community.
We conducted discussions within the Wikimedians of Benin and Nigeria User Group via our Telegram channel and during a recent community meetup. Key points about the importance of documenting Benin and Nigeria cultural heritage were shared, and feedback was collected.
- 12. Does your proposal aim to work to bridge any of the content knowledge gaps (Knowledge Inequity)? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Cultural background, ethnicity, religion, racial
- 13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)
Culture, heritage or GLAM
- 14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)
Ethnic/racial/religious or cultural background
- 15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)
Identify Topics for Impact
Learning and metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
From this project, we hope to learn: Community Engagement Strategies: The most effective ways to engage diverse communities, including underrepresented groups and cultural practitioners, in contributing to Wikimedia projects. Preservation Techniques: Best practices for documenting and preserving Benin Republic and Nigeria intangible cultural heritage (e.g., oral traditions, music, dance) on Wikimedia platforms. Collaboration Impact: How partnerships with cultural organizations can enhance the quality and reach of Wikimedia content. Knowledge Gap Challenges: The specific barriers contributors face when documenting intangible cultural heritage and how to address them effectively. Sustainability: Strategies to encourage long-term engagement and contributions from participants even after the project ends.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 100 | Individuals attending workshops, contributing content, or engaging in project-related activities. Participants include photographers, cultural practitioners, academics, and Wikimedia enthusiasts. |
| Number of editors | 50 | Participants actively contributing to Wikimedia projects by creating or editing content. These editors may include both experienced contributors and new users trained during the project. |
| Number of organizers | 3 | Core team members responsible for planning, organizing, and executing activities such as outreach, workshops, and follow-up initiatives. |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 40 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 1000 |
| Wikidata | 300 |
| Wiktionary | |
| Wikisource | |
| Wikimedia Incubator | 3 |
| Translatewiki | |
| MediaWiki | |
| Wikiquote | 20 |
| Wikivoyage | 5 |
| Wikibooks | |
| Wikiversity | |
| Wikinews | |
| Wikispecies | |
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
- Optional description for content contributions.
N/A
- 19. Do you have any other project targets in numbers (metrics)? (optional)
No
| Main Open Metrics | Description | Target |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
- 20. What tools would you use to measure each metrics? Please refer to the guide for a list of tools. You can also write that you are not sure and need support. (required)
Event Metrics Dashboard: To track participation and content contributions across workshops and edit-a-thons. Outreach Dashboard: To monitor contributions made by participants, including edits and uploads. Wikimedia Commons and Wikidata Stats: To analyze the quantity and quality of media and data contributions.
Financial proposal
[edit]- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IBI15o7h3JxFmJ57F8beOT5b7-2fJYEPvvAgbrugCSI/edit?gid=0#gid=0
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
586050000 NGN
- 22.2. Convert the amount requested into USD using the Oanda converter. This is done only to help you assess the USD equivalent of the requested amount. Your request should be between 500 - 5,000 USD.
4563.53 USD
- We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.
Yes
Endorsements and Feedback
[edit]Please add endorsements and feedback to the grant discussion page only. Endorsements added here will be removed automatically.
Community members are invited to share meaningful feedback on the proposal and include reasons why they endorse the proposal. Consider the following:
- Stating why the proposal is important for the communities involved and why they think the strategies chosen will achieve the results that are expected.
- Highlighting any aspects they think are particularly well developed: for instance, the strategies and activities proposed, the levels of community engagement, outreach to underrepresented groups, addressing knowledge gaps, partnerships, the overall budget and learning and evaluation section of the proposal, etc.
- Highlighting if the proposal focuses on any interesting research, learning or innovation, etc. Also if it builds on learning from past proposals developed by the individual or organization, or other Wikimedia communities.
- Analyzing if the proposal is going to contribute in any way to important developments around specific Wikimedia projects or Movement Strategy.
- Analysing if the proposal is coherent in terms of the objectives, strategies, budget, and expected results (metrics).