Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Preserving the Folklore of Northeast Nigeria through Wiki Loves Folklore 2026 (ID: 23641682)/Final Report
Application type: Standard application
Part 1: Project and impact
1. Describe the implemented activities and results achieved. Additionally, share which approaches were most effective in supporting you to achieve the results. (required)
During Wiki Loves Folklore 2026, we trained participants, recorded oral stories, and documented traditional songs, dances, and festivals from Northeast Nigeria. Over 30 contributions were added to Wikimedia, preserving local heritage and raising awareness among youth. The most effective approaches were hands-on workshops, radio programs, and collaboration with community elders, which ensured active participation and quality documentation.
2. Documentation of your impact. Please use space below to share links that help tell your story, impact, and evaluation. (required)
Share links to:
- Project page on Meta-Wiki or any other Wikimedia project
- Dashboards and tools that you used to track contributions
- Some photos or videos from your event. Remember to share access.
You can also share links to:
- Important social media posts
- Surveys and their results
- Infographics and sound files
- Examples of content edited on Wikimedia projects
Additionally, share the materials and resources that you used in the implementation of your project. (required)
For example:
- Training materials and guides
- Presentations and slides
- Work processes and plans
- Any other materials your team has created or adapted and can be shared with others
3. To what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding the work carried out with this Rapid Fund? You can choose “not applicable” if your work does not relate to these goals. Required. Select one option per question. (required)
| A. Bring in participants from underrepresented groups | Strongly agree |
| B. Create a more inclusive and connected culture in our community | Strongly agree |
| C. Develop content about underrepresented topics/groups | Strongly agree |
| D. Develop content from underrepresented perspectives | Agree |
| E. Encourage the retention of editors | Agree |
| F. Encourage the retention of organizers | Strongly agree |
| G. Increased participants' feelings of belonging and connection to the movement | Agree |
| F. Other (optional) |
Part 2: Learning
4. In your application, you outlined some learning questions. What did you learn from these learning questions when you implemented your project? How do you hope to use this learnings in the future? You can recall these learning questions below. (required)
You can recall these learning questions below: Through this project, I hope to learn the most effective ways to document and share local folklore using Wikimedia platforms. The main learning questions include:
1. How can local communities be better engaged to preserve their heritage through open knowledge projects? 2. What are the best approaches to train new contributors in rural areas with limited internet access? 3. How much impact can visual documentation have on improving online visibility of underrepresented Nigerian cultures? 4. How can this model be expanded to other regions in future Wiki Loves Folklore campaigns?
The lessons learned will guide future documentation projects in Nigeria and help improve strategies for engaging local communities in Wikimedia activities.
During Wiki Loves Folklore 2026, we learned that earning community trust and encouraging active participation are crucial for safeguarding local traditions. Involving traditional leaders, elders, and young people from the beginning allowed us to uncover lesser known heritage sites and strengthen community ownership. Training that was practical hands on, and delivered in local languages proved most effective in equipping contributors with the necessary skills. Participants appreciated workshops that were culturally relevant and interactive, making learning both meaningful and inclusive. These insights will inform future initiatives across Northern Nigeria, enhancing engagement, cultural authenticity, and the lasting impact of Wikimedia projects.
5. Did anything unexpected or surprising happen when implementing your activities? This can include both positive and negative situations. What did you learn from those experiences? (required)
During the implementation of Wiki Loves Folklore 2026 in Northeast Nigeria, we encountered some unexpected but valuable experiences. Positively, we were surprised by the enthusiasm and creativity of local youth, who contributed stories, photos, and folklore beyond our expectations. On the other hand, we faced challenges in reaching certain remote communities due to limited infrastructure and communication barriers. These experiences taught us the importance of flexibility, proactive planning, and building strong relationships with local leaders. We also learned that providing culturally relevant, hands on training and using local languages significantly improves participation and engagement, even in hard to reach areas.
6. What is your plan to share your project learnings and results with other community members? If you have already done it, describe how. (required)
To share the insights and results from Wiki Loves Folklore 2026 in Northeast Nigeria, we combined both community based and digital approaches. We held interactive workshops and presentations for traditional leaders, elders, and youth, showcasing effective methods and key outcomes. Our findings, photos, and documentation are also being shared on Wikimedia platforms to reach a wider audience. Moving forward, we plan to host webinars, develop practical guides, and collaborate with local media to inspire other communities in Northern Nigeria to preserve and document their own cultural heritage.
Part 3: Metrics
7. Wikimedia Metrics results. (required)
In your application, you set some Wikimedia targets in numbers (Wikimedia metrics). In this section, you will describe the achieved results and provide links to the tools used.
| Target | Results | Comments and tools used | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 75 | 33 | |
| Number of editors | 25 | 33 | |
| Number of organizers | 4 | 4 |
| Wikimedia project | Target | Result - Number of created pages | Result - Number of improved pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 1000 | 3069 | 8061 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 400 | 767 | 767 |
| Wikidata | 400 | 395 | 5055 |
| Wiktionary | |||
| Wikisource | 100 | 50 | 50 |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |||
| Translatewiki | |||
| MediaWiki | |||
| Wikiquote | |||
| Wikivoyage | 200 | 50 | 160 |
| Wikibooks | |||
| Wikiversity | |||
| Wikinews | |||
| Wikispecies | |||
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
8. Other Metrics results.
In your proposal, you could also set Other Metrics targets. Please describe the achieved results and provide links to the tools used if you set Other Metrics in your application.
| Other Metrics name | Metrics Description | Target | Result | Tools and comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
9. Did you have any difficulties collecting data to measure your results? (required)
No
9.1. Please state what difficulties you had. How do you hope to overcome these challenges in the future? Do you have any recommendations for the Foundation to support you in addressing these challenges? (required)
Part 4: Financial reporting
[edit]10. Please state the total amount spent in your local currency. (required)
2142465
11. Please state the total amount spent in US dollars. (required)
1500
12. Report the funds spent in the currency of your fund. (required)
Provide the link to the financial report [12]
12.2. If you have not already done so in your financial spending report, please provide information on changes in the budget in relation to your original proposal. (optional)
13. Do you have any unspent funds from the Fund?
No
13.1. Please list the amount and currency you did not use and explain why.
N/A
13.2. What are you planning to do with the underspent funds?
N/A
13.3. Please provide details of hope to spend these funds.
N/A
14.1. Are you in compliance with the terms outlined in the fund agreement?
Yes
14.2. Are you in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations as outlined in the grant agreement?
Yes
14.3. Are you in compliance with provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), and with relevant tax laws and regulations restricting the use of the Funds as outlined in the grant agreement? In summary, this is to confirm that the funds were used in alignment with the WMF mission and for charitable/nonprofit/educational purposes.
Yes
15. If you have additional recommendations or reflections that don’t fit into the above sections, please write them here. (optional)