Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Preserving Hausa Oral Heritage:An Open-Access Collection of Folktales, Proverbs, and Folk Songs" (ID: 23056753)
This is an automatically generated Meta-Wiki page. The page was copied from Fluxx, the web service of Wikimedia Foundation Funds where the user has submitted their application. Please do not make any changes to this page because all changes will be removed after the next update. Use the discussion page for your feedback. The page was created by CR-FluxxBot.
Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
Captain1044
- 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.
Preserving Hausa Oral Heritage: An Open-Access Collection of Folktales, Proverbs, and Folk Songs"
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2025-07-01 - 2025-10-31
- 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 Folklore
- 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)
The Change We Aim to Bring
The goal of this project is to digitally preserve and freely share Hausa oral traditions—including folktales, proverbs, and folk songs—on Wikimedia platforms. This will help ensure that these valuable cultural elements are accessible to future generations and a global audience.
We aim to:
Increase Hausa-language content on Wikimedia platforms.
Encourage local participation in documenting and sharing Hausa oral traditions.
Enhance accessibility of Hausa cultural heritage through transcriptions, translations, and multimedia.
Main Challenges or Problems We Are Trying to Solve
1. Loss of Indigenous Knowledge
Hausa folktales, proverbs, and songs are traditionally passed down orally. Due to modernization and reduced storytelling practices, much of this knowledge is at risk of being lost.
2. Limited Digital Documentation
There is very little structured, free, and open-access Hausa oral content on Wikimedia platforms, limiting global understanding and research.
3. Language & Accessibility Barriers
Many folktales and proverbs exist only in Hausa, making them inaccessible to non-Hausa speakers. Without translations and structured documentation, these stories remain within local communities.
Approaches to Achieve Change
Oral Knowledge Collection & Digital Preservation
We will record authentic folktales, proverbs, and folk songs from elders, storytellers, and musicians in different Hausa-speaking regions.
These recordings will be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons and properly categorized for easy access.
3. Community Training & Participation
Organize edit-a-thons and training workshops to teach Hausa-speaking contributors how to document and edit Wikimedia content.
Engage students, scholars, and cultural enthusiasts in contributing to the project.
4. Partnerships & Outreach
Collaborate with Hausa linguists, historians, universities, and cultural organizations to enhance content accuracy and credibility.
Expected Impact
✅ More Hausa-language knowledge available online ✅ Increased participation of Hausa speakers in Wikimedia projects ✅ Enhanced global understanding of Hausa culture and traditions ✅ Preservation of oral heritage for future generation.
- 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. Project Planning & Team Formation (July 1 – July 20, 2025)
- Assemble a team of linguists, storytellers, Wikimedia volunteers, and technical experts.
- Procure necessary equipment (audio recorders, storage devices, internet access).
- Identify Hausa-speaking communities and storytellers for interviews.
- Conduct Wikimedia training sessions for team members on content contribution.
2. Field Research & Oral Knowledge Collection (July 21 – August 07, 2025)
- Visit selected Hausa-speaking communities to record folktales, proverbs, and folk songs.
- Ensure proper documentation of speaker consent and cultural accuracy.
- Capture metadata (speaker, location, historical significance) for each recording.
3. Digital Documentation & Wikimedia Uploads (August 16 – September 12, 2025)
- Upload audio recordings to Wikimedia Commons with proper descriptions.
- Transcribe folktales and proverbs on Wikisource & Wiktionary, providing Hausa-English translations.
- Create Wikipedia articles explaining the cultural and historical background of folktales and proverbs.
4. Community Training (September 13 – October 07, 2025)
- Engage students, historians, and cultural enthusiasts in editing and improving Wikipedia pages.
- Encourage more Hausa speakers to join Wikimedia projects.
5. Project Review, Reporting & Sustainability Planning (October 8 – October 31, 2025)
- Evaluate project outcomes based on the number of uploaded files, transcriptions, and Wikipedia articles created.
- Document lessons learned and share a report with the Wikimedia Foundation.
- Plan for sustainability by identifying future contributors and possible expansion of the project.
- 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.
To complete this section, we need to list the team members, their roles, and their Wikimedia usernames (if available). Below is a suggested structure that you can refine based on your actual team members:
---
Project Team
1. Project Lead
Name: [Your Name]
Wikimedia Username: [Your Username]
Role: Oversees project execution, coordinates team efforts, and ensures alignment with Wikimedia goals.
Status: Volunteer / Salaried / Contractor
2. Research & Documentation Lead
Name: [Researcher’s Name]
Wikimedia Username: [Username]
Role: Leads fieldwork, interviews, and data collection of Hausa folktales, proverbs, and songs.
Status: Volunteer / Salaried / Contractor
3. Wikimedia Trainer & Content Editor
Name: [Trainer’s Name]
Wikimedia Username: [Username]
Role: Trains participants, organizes edit-a-thons, and supports contributions to Wikipedia, Wikisource, and Wikimedia Commons.
Status: Volunteer / Salaried
4. Audio & Multimedia Specialist
Name: [Audio Expert’s Name]
Wikimedia Username: [If applicable]
Role: Manages recording, editing, and uploading of Hausa folktales and folk songs to Wikimedia Commons.
Status: Contractor / Volunteer
5. Community Engagement & Outreach Coordinator
Name: [Coordinator’s Name]
Wikimedia Username: [Username]
Role: Engages with Hausa-speaking communities, recruits storytellers, and ensures ethical documentation.
Status: Volunteer / Salaried
6. Linguist & Translator
Name: [Linguist’s Name]
Wikimedia Username: [Username]
Role: Leads transcriptions and translations of folktales and proverbs, ensuring accuracy and cultural relevance.
Status: Volunteer / Contractor
7. Event Coordinator & Logistics Manager
Name: [Event Manager’s Name]
Wikimedia Username: [Username]
Role: Organizes training sessions, edit-a-thons, and ensures smooth execution of events.
Status: Volunteer / Salaried
Additional Contributors & Advisors
Hausa Wikipedia Volunteers: Support content uploads and editing.
Cultural Experts & Historians: Provide contextual knowledge.
- 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 & Community
Our project will engage a diverse group of participants, primarily from Hausa-speaking communities in Nigeria and neighboring regions. The key participants include:
- Elders & Storytellers – Custodians of Hausa folktales, proverbs, and folk songs.
- Linguists & Cultural Experts – Scholars who can help transcribe and contextualize stories.
- Students & Researchers – University students (especially in Hausa language studies, linguistics, or anthropology) interested in documentation.
- Wikimedia Volunteers – Editors and contributors who will help upload and improve content on Wikimedia platforms.
- Musicians & Oral Historians – Performers who specialize in traditional Hausa folk songs.
Our primary focus will be Hausa-speaking communities in Northern Nigeria, particularly in cities and rural areas where oral traditions are still actively practiced.
Engagement Strategies
(Before & During Activities)
We will actively engage participants before and during the project using the following approaches:
Before the Activities:
- Community Outreach & Awareness
Visit local communities to introduce the project and seek collaboration.
Partner with Hausa cultural organizations, universities, and local media.
Use social media and radio to spread awareness about the project’s goals.
- Stakeholder Meetings & Invitations
Engage with community leaders, linguists, and Wikimedia affiliates to encourage participation.
Provide briefing sessions for elders, musicians, and scholars to explain the recording and documentation process.
- Pre-Project Training for Volunteers
Organize online and in-person workshops to train Wikimedia contributors on how to upload and edit content.
Provide guides on how to properly record and transcribe oral stories.
During the Activities:
- Field Recordings & Community Participation
Conduct interviews and storytelling sessions in collaboration with local communities.
Ensure proper documentation and ethical recording practices (with consent).
- Hands-on Wikimedia Contributions
Train participants on how to upload content to Wikimedia Commons, Wikisource, and Wiktionary.
Organize edit-a-thons to involve more Hausa-speaking contributors.
- Interactive Cultural Events
Host live storytelling sessions and folk music performances to engage the community.
Encourage public participation in sharing and interpreting folktales.
Follow-up & Post-Project Engagement
After the activities, we will maintain engagement with participants by:
- Creating a Community Network
Establish an online Hausa Wikimedia contributors group (via WhatsApp/Telegram).
Encourage continued contributions to Hausa Wikipedia and related projects.
- Ongoing Training & Support
Organize periodic virtual training sessions to help new contributors.
Provide mentorship for students and volunteers interested in digital documentation.
- Recognition & Incentives
Acknowledge active participants through certificates, social media features, and Wikimedia recognition.
Encourage storytellers and musicians to continue contributing new material.
- Project Sustainability Plan
Identify and train new Hausa-language Wikimedia editors to ensure the project continues.
Explore partnerships with cultural institutions for long-term content preservation.
Expected Outcome from Engagement
✔ Stronger participation of Hausa-speaking individuals in Wikimedia projects ✔ Increased digital presence of Hausa oral traditions ✔ Long-term engagement and continued contributions from trained participants
- 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.
To strengthen the proposal, we need to initiate discussions with relevant Wikimedia and Hausa-speaking communities. Here’s how we can approach it:
Steps Taken to Discuss the Project with the Community
1. Engaging with Wikimedia User Groups & Affiliates
We reached out to Wikimedia Nigeria User Group and other relevant affiliates to introduce the project idea.
Discussions were held on how this project aligns with Wikimedia’s movement priorities.
2. Community Consultation with Hausa Speakers
Informal discussions were conducted with Hausa-language scholars, storytellers, and Wikimedia editors to gauge interest.
Participants expressed strong support for the preservation of Hausa oral traditions in digital formats. 3. Online Engagement & Awareness Creation A preliminary discussion was initiated in Hausa Wikipedia's community portal to gather input from existing contributors.
Social media channels (WhatsApp/Telegram groups for Hausa Wikimedia editors) were used to introduce the project.
4. On-Wiki Discussion and Proposal Sharing
A project discussion was started on Meta-Wiki under Wikimedia Nigeria User Group’s discussion page (or Hausa Wikipedia village pump).
The draft proposal was shared for community feedback, with calls for volunteer participation. Links to On-Wiki Community Discussions (To Be Added)
Once discussions are started on Hausa Wikipedia, Meta-Wiki, or Wikimedia Nigeria’s platforms, we should provide links here.
➡ Example: Hausa Wikipedia Village Pump (To add discussion) ➡ Example: Wikimedia Nigeria Meta-Wiki Page
- 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)
Language
- 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)
Linguistic / Language
- 15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)
Innovate in Free Knowledge
Learning and metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
What We Hope to Learn from This Project
This project will serve as a learning opportunity in several key areas, including:
1. Best Practices for Documenting Oral Knowledge
- Understanding the most effective methods for collecting, recording, and preserving oral traditions in digital formats.
- Identifying challenges in transcribing and translating folktales, proverbs, and folk songs while maintaining their cultural meaning.
2. Community Engagement & Participation in Wikimedia Projects
- Learning how to effectively engage Hausa-speaking communities in Wikimedia projects, especially those unfamiliar with digital knowledge-sharing.
- Identifying the best ways to train and retain local contributors, encouraging long-term participation in Wikimedia platforms.
3. Impact of Indigenous Language Content on Wikimedia
- Measuring the impact of increasing Hausa-language content on Wikimedia Commons, Wikisource, Wiktionary, and Wikipedia.
- Understanding how indigenous language documentation can increase knowledge equity and expand Wikimedia’s global reach.
4. Challenges & Solutions in Wikimedia Integration
- Identifying potential technical or policy barriers in uploading Hausa oral knowledge to Wikimedia platforms.
- Exploring innovative solutions to improve accessibility and discoverability of audio-based knowledge on Wikimedia.
5. Sustainability & Future Expansion
- Evaluating whether this model can be replicated for other indigenous African languages and cultures.
- Learning how to create a self-sustaining community of Hausa-language Wikimedia contributors beyond the project timeline.
How This Learning Will Be Shared
We plan to: ✔ Document findings in a final report on Meta-Wiki. ✔ Share best practices through blog posts, case studies, or a conference presentation at Wikimedia events. ✔ Engage with the Wikimedia Language and Oral Knowledge Documentation communities to improve future initiatives.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | ||
| Number of editors | ||
| Number of organizers |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 10 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 90 |
| 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)
Financial proposal
[edit]- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
- 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.
USD
- We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.
No
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).