Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Sacred Rhythms:Yoruba Orisa, Drums, Festivals, Rituals, and Sacred Places of Worship (ID: 23596907)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
Royalesignature
- 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.
Sacred Rhythms: Yoruba Orisa, Drums, Festivals, Rituals, and Sacred Places of Worship
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2026-02-20 - 2026-05-20
- 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)
Wiki Loves Africa 2026: Sacred Rhythms – Yoruba Orisa, Drums, Festivals, Rituals and Sacred Places of Worship
The change we seek to bring with this project is the documentation, preservation, and celebration of Yoruba cultural heritage, with a particular focus on its rites, rituals, and spiritual traditions. The Yoruba people are renowned for their vibrant and symbolic cultural expressions, which include Orisa worship, sacred drumming, festivals, naming ceremonies, masquerades, and traditional places of worship. Despite their global influence, much of this rich cultural heritage remains underrepresented in the Wikimedia movement, leaving gaps in freely accessible images, videos, and knowledge about Yoruba rituals and traditions.
The main challenges we aim to address include the lack of visual documentation of Yoruba spiritual and cultural practices on Wikimedia platforms, the risk of cultural erasure in the face of modernization, and the limited engagement of cultural custodians, traditional worshippers, and creative professionals in open knowledge projects. Without intentional efforts, these invaluable cultural practices—many of which are visually rich and globally significant—may remain invisible in the global knowledge ecosystem. This proposed Photowalk and documentation project, under the theme “Sacred Rhythms”, will focus on capturing the vibrancy of Yoruba festivals, the symbolic rituals of Orisa worship, the spiritual power of sacred drums, the artistry of masquerades, and the reverence of traditional places of worship. We will highlight ceremonies such as naming rites, Marriage rites, initiation rituals, and annual festivals honoring Orisa like Sàngó, Ògún, and Yemoja, showcasing the deep connections between the Yoruba people, their deities, and their cultural identity. To achieve this, we will: Organize cultural photowalks in selected Yoruba communities to document rituals, festivals, sacred places of worship, and ceremonial practices.
Collaborate with traditional leaders, cultural custodians, and worshippers to ensure authentic representation.
Engage professional and emerging photographers (through local photography associations) to contribute high-quality images and videos.
Encourage youth and volunteers to join the Wikimedia movement by contributing multimedia content that fills the current gaps on Yoruba cultural heritage.
Ultimately, this project will not only bridge knowledge and visual content gaps on Yoruba culture within Wikimedia projects but also celebrate and preserve the sacred rhythms of Yoruba identity for global audiences and future generations.
- 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 Information Session / Campaign Launch Led by Salako Lukman Olamilekan (Project Lead) with invited cultural custodians, Wikimedia community members, and professional photographers. Purpose: Introduce the Wiki Loves Africa 2026 theme (Rites & Rituals), share project objectives, and engage potential participants.
Physical Training Workshop for 35 Participants
Target: 5 photographers (professionals and emerging talents), 5 Traditionalists, 5 Historians + 20 Wikimedia volunteers.
Training will cover: Wikimedia Commons contribution, cultural documentation ethics, and technical photography/videography skills.
3 Photowalks Across Kwara, Osun, and Oyo States a. Photowalk 1 – Kwara State (Irra, Igboidun,Ilemona and Offa Communities)
Sites: Orisa Oya Grove, Orisa Laage Grove, Moremi Heritage Site, Odo Ogun River, Obatala dieties and Gogo River.
Focus: Feminine power, heroism, natural worship, and water-linked rituals.
b. Photowalk 2 – Osun State (Ede and Osogbo)
Sites: Aafin Ilu (Drum Palace, Ede), Osun-Osogbo Grove, shrines of Sango and Esu, Orisa Aje Grove and other sacred ritual spaces.
Focus: Sacred drumming, festivals, ritual worship,Ritual economy, prosperity deities, and ancestral rites in the cradle of Yoruba civilization and UNESCO-recognized heritage.
General Photo Contest
Open to participants to submit images captured during the photowalks.
Categories: Orisa worship, drums & music, festivals & ceremonies, sacred places of worship, Wiki Loves Africa 2026
1 General Upload Session
Facilitated by Salako Lukman Olamilekan.
Hands-on Wikimedia Commons upload session to ensure all documented content is properly contributed with metadata.
1 Exhibition: "Sacred Rhythms" A physical exhibition showcasing selected photographs and multimedia from the photowalks.
Venue: Kwara or Osun (to be finalized).
Target audience: Wikimedia community, cultural custodians, Traditionalists, Historians, photographers, students, and the general public.
1 Debrief, Closeout & Reporting Session Wrap-up of activities, lessons learned, and final reporting to the Wiki Loves Africa team. Led by Salako Lukman Olamilekan with contributions from photographers, partners, and participants.
- 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: Salako Lukman Olamilekan (Royalesignature)
Salako Lukman Olamilekan, widely known by his Wikimedia username Royalesignature, is a prolific Yoruba Wikipedia editor and one of the foremost champions of Yoruba-language knowledge on Wikimedia platforms. With an impressive record of over 600 articles created on Yoruba Wikipedia and more than 700 media uploads on Wikimedia Commons (spanning images, videos, and audio files), he has consistently expanded access to Yoruba content while safeguarding cultural knowledge in digital form. Royalesignature has received recognition for his outstanding contributions, including winning prestigious competitions such as the Write for the Rights Nigeria Contest 2025, Afrodemics 2025, and serving as a delegate at Afroyanga 2.0, a cultural-focused Wikipedia intensive bootcamp. He is also a Wiki Lab Organizer Cohort 2 graduate and a WikiBoast delegate, an initiative for carefully selected experienced editors organized by the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria. His excellence has further been spotlighted through top-level contributions to landmark initiatives such as Celebrating Nigeria’s Indigenous Identity on Wikimedia and Afrohistory 2025. Beyond his personal contributions, Royalesignature is an innovative organizer, trainer, and community builder. He has successfully led and co-organized several impactful projects, including the Yoruba Wikipedia Awareness Campaign in Offa, Wikipedia 4 Ijakadi Festival, and Exploring the Cultural Heritage of Yoruba Compounds. He also co-organized the Wiki Climate Campus Tour Nigeria, one of the largest climate-focused Wikimedia initiatives in the country. Through these initiatives, he has introduced hundreds of new editors to the Wikimedia movement and fostered sustainable, long-term participation. As the Founder of the Yoruba Wikipedia Fan Club Offa, he continues to nurture communities of passionate editors, empowering youth and cultural advocates to preserve, celebrate, and make Yoruba knowledge globally accessible. His proven track record in cultural documentation, project leadership, and Wikimedia advocacy uniquely positions him to lead the Wiki Loves Africa 2026: Sacred Rhythms project. With this initiative, he aims to spotlight the rich spiritual, ritual, and cultural traditions of the Yoruba people—capturing the essence of Orisa worship, drums, festivals, rituals, sacred places of worship, and intangible heritage—while ensuring these treasures are preserved and represented within the global Wikimedia ecosystem.
Project Co-Organizer & Communications – Muhammed Thani Muhammed Thani will serve as the project’s Co-Organizer, bringing a strong track record of excellence in Wikimedia contributions and communications. He emerged as the highest Yoruba-language contributor during the Write for the Rights Nigeria 2025 Contest and was the runner-up for highest Yoruba content translator from English in August 2025, with over 100 articles translated. Beyond Wikimedia, he is an accomplished ICT expert, project manager, and communications specialist, whose expertise will strengthen the project’s organization, outreach, and knowledge-sharing impact.
Facilitator:Mis Dorcas
Dokimazo99 is a seasoned Yoruba Wikipedia editor who stands as one of the most prolific content creators on the Yoruba Wikipedia having created over 500 articles on Yoruba Wikipedia. She has previously served as the president of the Yoruba Wiki Fan-club Unilag and Wikipedian-in-Residence for the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group, she showcases her commitment to promoting and preserving the Yoruba language. With a proven track record of spearheading successful projects, such as the "Wikipedia Training: University of Lagos First Semester," where she diligently trained and guided participants in the art of editing and translating into Yoruba Wikipedia. She has trained and recruited over 100 editors to the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group.
Facilitator and Jury: Santhosh Notagar Prof. Santhosh Notagar is a distinguished professor of 3D and 2D Animation, Graphic Design, and Videography at Malgore University, with extensive expertise in digital media and visual storytelling. Beyond academia, he is a renowned Wikipedia volunteer with active contributions across projects, and a participant in international Wikimedia events such as the Wikisource Conference, where he has engaged in advancing free knowledge and collaborative editing. His dual experience as an academic lecturer and Wikimedia advocate equips him with unique skills in training, knowledge transfer, and cultural documentation. As a facilitator for this project, Prof. Notagar will bring his wealth of expertise in creative media, open knowledge, and community engagement to enrich participants’ capacity in producing high-quality visual and cultural content for the Wikimedia movement.
Welfare & Administration – Amina Ibrahim O.and Abidoye Yusuf Amina Ibrahim O. will oversee logistics and welfare for the project. She is an experienced educationist, historian, and communications expert, bringing a strong background in coordination, cultural understanding, and stakeholder engagement. Her expertise will ensure smooth administration, effective communication, and well-organized support systems for participants and partners throughout the project. Abidoye Yusuf is a videographer and Content Creator.
- 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)
Our target participants include photography enthusiasts, new and existing Wikimedians, as well as members of the general public across Nigeria who are passionate about cultural heritage and storytelling. The contest will remain open and inclusive, ensuring that anyone with an interest in contributing can take part. To foster engagement and continuity, we plan to set up a dedicated WhatsApp group where participants can connect, share updates, and receive timely support. In addition, newly trained editors will be paired with experienced Wikimedians who will serve as mentors. These mentors will provide guidance, answer questions, and follow up with new contributors to ensure they build confidence and remain active within the Wikimedia community.
- 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 sought valuable insights from Wikimedians in both the South West and North Central regions, particularly members of the Wiki Yoruba community and the Wiki Loves team in Nigeria. In addition, we engaged closely with our project facilitators and ambassadors, who are actively working with us to ensure the success of this initiative. Their collective experience and guidance have been instrumental in shaping our approach and strengthening the project’s cultural and community impact.
- 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)
Geographic
- 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)
How can documenting Yoruba festivals, rituals, and sacred practices strengthen intergenerational knowledge transfer and inspire pride in cultural identity?
What innovative ways can Wikimedia tools and platforms be used to amplify Yoruba cultural heritage globally and attract new contributors?
How do you think this Photowalk can bring a sense of urgency to preserve Yoruba sacred groves, Orisa traditions, and places of worship through advocacy and documentation?
Do you think partnership with cultural custodians, traditional leaders, and community stakeholders can help us achieve this aim?
What do you hope to learn from this project in terms of cultural heritage documentation, knowledge sharing, and Wikimedia community engagement?
How would your participation in Wiki Loves Africa 2026 make our community members feel engaged and become more attached to the Wikimedia movement?
How did you feel being part of Wiki Loves Africa? What was your experience like meeting other community members, photographers, and cultural custodians during the project?
During next year’s contest, will you be willing to participate again as part of this movement to continue documenting African heritage?
Would you recommend this project to someone, especially young photographers, cultural enthusiasts, or Wikimedia contributors?
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 35 | |
| Number of editors | 30 | |
| Number of organizers | 3 |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | |
| Wikimedia Commons | 2000 |
| 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)
1.Outreach dashboard tools 2. Ptools 3. Commons category tool 4. Hashtag tools 5, Event Metrics Tool 6. Fountain Tool
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)
6385729.4 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.
4301.75 USD
- We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.
Yes
Endorsements and Feedback
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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).