Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Exploring Yoruba Rites and Rituals in Ondo and Ekiti State, Nigeria (ID: 23640737)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
Ogundele1
- 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.
Exploring Yoruba Rites and Rituals in Ondo and Ekiti State, Nigeria
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2026-02-23 - 2026-05-01
- 4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)
Nigeria
- 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)
This project aims to preserve, document, and celebrate the living traditions of the Yoruba people in Ondo and Ekiti states by amplifying the visibility of their cultural practices on Wikimedia platforms. Rooted in the theme “Rites and Rituals” for Wiki Loves Africa 2026, this project seeks to bridge the gap between Africa’s vibrant cultural heritage and its representation in the global open-knowledge ecosystem.
Across Yoruba communities, rites and rituals form the foundation of social identity, spirituality, and communal belonging. These practices—ranging from initiation ceremonies to annual festivals and sacred rituals—carry profound meaning and continuity within the society. However, many of them are transmitted orally and risk being lost to modernization, urbanization, and generational disconnect. Despite the global influence of Yoruba culture, there remains a striking underrepresentation of its rich visual and spiritual heritage on Wikimedia projects.
This project seeks to address these gaps by combining cultural documentation through photowalks, community collaboration through engagement with historians, traditional rulers and worshipers, and capacity building through Wikipedia training. Through a series of cultural photowalks across selected Yoruba communities in Ondo and Ekiti States, we will document traditional festivals, sacred places, and traditional ceremonial practices.
One of the key challenges we aim to confront is cultural erosion, driven by modernization and the gradual disappearance of oral traditions. This project will collaborate with traditional custodians, worshippers, professional photographers who are locally based, and Wikimedia volunteers. We will engage traditional leaders and cultural practitioners to ensure that documentation is both respectful and representative. At the same time, we will organize training workshops for photographers and young creatives, equipping them with skills in cultural photography, Creative Commons licensing, Wikimedia uploads, and ethical storytelling. This dual approach while will not only enrich Wikimedia platforms with high-quality cultural content but also build a sustainable network of Wikimedia editors in Ondo and Ekiti states.
This project will produce tangible outcomes, including hundreds of freely accessible photographs and videos, an empowered local community of Wikimedians, and strengthened partnerships between traditional custodians and the open knowledge movement. By documenting the sacred and the symbolic, this initiative ensures that the heritage of Ondo and Ekiti people of South West Nigeria remains alive, visible, and respected across the globe.
- 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 Virtual Introduction Session/Campaign launch - This session is to introduce the Wiki Loves Africa 2026 Theme to identified participants; custodians of culture from both states, Wikimedia volunteers, and Professional photographers. At this virtual session, participants will be introduced to the Wikimedia movement and how they can contribute to it. At this session, they will be guided on how to create their Wikipedia accounts, introduced to Wikicommons and share the objectives of WLA 2026 with them.
- 2 Physical Workshop (one in each state) conducted on photography, uploading, describing and licensing on Wikicommons, and general Wikimedia contributions.
- 2 Photowalks (one in each state; Ondo and Ekiti States) to capture their Rites and Rituals.
- 2 Upload sessions; all documented photographs (one in each state) are uploaded at these sessions.
- Engage with at least 10 cultural custodians and communities across Ondo and Ekiti States to obtain access, ensure cultural accuracy, and secure storytelling consent.
- Targeting 50 participants; existing and new Wikimedians, professional photographers, and cultural custodians, (25 from each state).
- Establishing a network of Wikimedia contributors in both state after during the project implemention.
- 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.
Project Lead - John Joy (User: Ogundele1)
John is a Wikimedia volunteer and Wikipedia event organizer, he has been in the Wikimedia for over 6 years and had lead series of Wikimedia campaigns and contests including Wiki Loves Africa, Introducing Wikipedia to new communities and institutions of higher learnings in South West Nigeria, 1Lib1Ref, and Photowalks to documents historic places, institutions and traditions. He lead the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria University of Ibadan Fan Club for 3 years and record success in recruiting new editors and training them as well as leading local campaigns and contests.
He also co-organized the Wiki Climate Campus Tour Nigeria, one of the largest climate-focused Wikimedia initiatives in the country, he is one of best winners of the Wiki Loves Africa 2025 campaign organized by the Yoruba Wikimedia User Group. Over the years, he has contributed nearly 1000 quality photos to Wikimedia commons.
Facilitator and Logistics - (User: OTim75)
Timileyin is an experienced Wikimedia project manager who has led a number of Wikimedia projects, notably is the Info-Tourism and Wellness campaign, Osun Wikimedia Network launch among others. He will be in charge of logistics for the project. He has successfully played this role in a number of WIkimedia projects he has lead and co-lead.
Communication Manager - (User: Praze03)
Praise will be a co-organizer for this project and lead the communication. A Wikimedia event-oganizer, with a strong track record of excellence in Wikimedia contributions and communications. With his experience and contribution to the Wikimedia space he currently lead the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria Obafemi Awolowo University Fan Club, where he's leading campaigns and contest, training new and existing editors and recruiting new editors. He has participated in and coordinated several Wikimedia projects, events and workshops, some of which Include; info-tourism and wellness, Wikipedia awareness in Obafemi Awolowo University, Wikidata for tourism in Nigeria, Wiki for Human Rights amongst others. He's currently a facilitator for WikiForHumanRights 2025 in Nigeria.
Facilitator - (User: RukayatAjeigbe)
Rukayat is experienced in leading Wikimedia campaigns and contests. She has led a number of Wikimedia projects while serving as the pioneer president of Wikimedia User Group Nigeria - Osun Wikimedia Network. She has participated in a number of Wikimedia campaigns and lead a reasonable number of it including; Wikipedia pages wanting photos 2021 contest at Wikimedia Fan Club, University of Ibadan (Participant), Wikidata for Tourism in Nigeria (Exploring Nigeria) (facilitator and Participant), Wikidata for Media Personalities in Nigeria(Participant), Wiki-Glam Awareness for Librarian in Kwara State (Participant), Wikidata for Library and Librarian in Nigeria (Participant) among others. She will use her wealth of knowledge to ensure the smooth running of the project. She will train participants as a facilitator during the trainings.
- 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)
The targeted participants include photography enthusiasts, new and existing Wikimedians, and members of the general public in Ondo and Ekiti State who are passionate about cultural heritage and storytelling, highlighting their rich rites and rituals in line with the Wiki Loves Africa 2026 theme.
Following the theme announcement, our team created a dedicated WhatsApp group for planning and proposal drafting. The platform has birth a group of that serves as the main space for outreach, where we will share contest details, training schedules, and resources. Engagement before the campaign will include social media campaigns, invitations to local photography and cultural groups, and direct outreach to cultural custodians in the targeted states. During the campaign, participants will connect via the group to share updates, receive guidance, and stay motivated. Structured trainings will be organized to teach photo documentation, Wikimedia editing, and licensing on Wikicommons. Each new contributor will be paired with an experienced Wikimedian (facilitator) who will provide mentorship and ensure consistent participation.
After the contest, mentorship and community engagement will continue through the same communication channel and the participants will be introduced to the larger Wikimedia community in Nigeria. Mentors will guide participants toward other Wikimedia projects, while post-contest review sessions will celebrate achievements and encourage long-term involvement in the Wikimedia movement, to strengthen a sustainable network of contributors passionate about preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
- 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.
This project has been discussed with the Wiki Loves Africa team in Nigeria, Yoruba Wikimedia User Group and Wikimedia User Group Nigeria. The project once approved will be announced on the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria meta page. In addition, all facilitators and intending participants are actively engaging one another to ensure the success of this initiative. Their collective experience and guidance is put together into this proposal writing.
- 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)
Increase the Sustainability of Our Movement
Learning and metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
1. How can we accurately record and depict Yoruba rites and rituals while adhering to Wikimedia's open knowledge guidelines and respecting local traditions?
2. What are the most effective ways to get community members and local custodians to share their expertise and give permission for documentation?
3. How can the richness and significance of cultural practices be communicated on Wikimedia platforms using multimedia techniques like photography, video, and audio?
4. What obstacles can appear when striking a balance between free access, community trust, and cultural sensitivity, and how might they be overcome?
5. In what ways may this project contribute to future Wikimedia projects that protect and promote Nigeria's indigenous knowledge and intangible cultural heritage?
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 44 | 20 participants per states |
| Number of editors | 40 | |
| Number of organizers | 4 |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 10 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 1000 |
| Wikidata | |
| Wiktionary | |
| Wikisource | |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |
| Translatewiki | |
| MediaWiki | |
| Wikiquote | |
| Wikivoyage | |
| 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)
Outreach dashboard tool Commons Category tool Meta landing page
Financial proposal
[edit]- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1heSg8CcYmqC-VjEGq9Ji6xYAKgiw50Ig_LSP1ESmGCY/edit?usp=sharing
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
5536650 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.
3789.35 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).