Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Wiki Loves Africa 2026:Rite and Rituals in Central Kanuri Wikimedians Community (ID: 23644103)
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)
Mustybdc
- 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.
Wiki Loves Africa 2026: Rite and Rituals in Central Kanuri Wikimedians Community
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2026-03-01 - 2026-04-30
- 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 is an annual photography, video, and audio contest that celebrates the richness, diversity, and beauty of African culture through visual storytelling. The campaign provides an open platform for Africans to document and share their everyday realities, traditions, and heritage on Wikimedia Commons, thereby helping to redefine the African narrative from the perspective of those who live it. The initiative also serves as a bridge between emerging Wikimedia communities and the global open knowledge movement, fostering creativity, participation, and visibility across the continent. Central Kanuri Wikimedians Community proudly joins this continental celebration for the first time under the theme “Rites and Rituals.” This debut participation will mark a significant milestone in the community’s journey toward promoting cultural preservation and digital inclusion within the Kanuri-speaking region. Through the project titled Wiki Loves Africa 2026: Rites and Rituals in Central Kanuri Wikimedians Community members will document and showcase the rich traditional practices, ceremonies, and sacred cultural expressions unique to the Kanuri people and neighboring ethnic groups. This will not only highlight the diversity within Nigeria but also contribute to a broader understanding of African identity on Wikimedia platforms.
By participating in this campaign, the Central Kanuri Wikimedians Community aims to: Empower local photographers, storytellers, and volunteers to contribute freely licensed media to Wikimedia Commons. Preserve and share valuable cultural knowledge with global audiences. Strengthen community engagement and awareness about open knowledge and free culture movements. Promote collaboration and inclusion within the Wikimedia ecosystem.
This project represents more than a photo contest, it’s a cultural movement, a digital preservation effort, and a proud step toward amplifying Kanuri voices on the global stage.
- 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.
Proposed Activities
- Workshop and Orientation Session: The project will begin with an introductory workshop designed to familiarize community members, especially newcomers with the Wiki Loves Africa campaign. Participants will learn about the objectives of the 2026 theme Rites and Rituals and how to effectively contribute to Wikimedia Commons. Professional photographers from the region will also be invited to participate, learn about Wikimedia projects, and engage in the contest. This activity aims to create synergy between the Wikimedia community and local creative talents.
- Photo Hunts and Field Documentation: The team will organize photo walks and field expeditions to capture authentic, high-quality images representing the diverse rites and rituals practiced across the Kanuri region. The goal is to collect between 300–400 unique and culturally relevant media files that align with the 2026 theme. These images will showcase traditional ceremonies, spiritual practices, and other forms of cultural expression that define community life.
- Pre-Upload Training Sessions: Before the upload phase begins, a follow-up training session will be conducted to ensure participants understand the standards and requirements for uploading media files to Wikimedia Commons. This session will focus on copyright awareness, file naming conventions, metadata completeness, and quality control to minimize errors and improve the visibility of contributions.
- Upload Sessions and Mentorship: Experienced editors from the Central Kanuri Wikimedians Community will lead and mentor participants during dedicated upload sessions. They will provide hands-on guidance to new contributors, ensuring each media file is properly categorized, described, and licensed. This activity will also serve as an opportunity to build long-term mentorship relationships within the community.
- Tracking and Monitoring Tools: The project will utilize tracking platforms such as the Outreach Dashboard, Wiki Loves tools, Ptools, and Hashtag tools to monitor participants’ contributions throughout the campaign. These tools will help assess engagement, measure output, and provide one-on-one technical support to participants where necessary.
- Recognition and Prizes: To encourage active participation and reward excellence, the project will offer local-level prizes to the top five contributors based on quality, quantity, and relevance of their submissions. This incentive aims to motivate participants to produce outstanding content and remain active beyond the campaign period.
- 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.
- MohammedBama123 (Project Lead)
- Details:MohammedBama123 is the Chairman of the Central Kanuri Wikimedians Community. He is a dedicated community leader and open knowledge advocate committed to promoting digital inclusion, language preservation, and cultural documentation among Kanuri-speaking communities.
- Responsibility: MohammedBama123 will be the project coordinator and he will lead all the activities related to the project and team coordination
- Umargana1 ( Co-organizer)
- Details: Umargna1 is the Vice Chairman of the Central Kanuri Wikimedians Community. He is a passionate Wikimedia contributor and community organizer dedicated to promoting open knowledge, cultural preservation, and digital literacy within Kanuri-speaking regions. In his capacity as Vice Chairman, Umargana1 plays a vital role in strengthening community participation, mentoring new editors, and coordinating outreach activities that advance the visibility of the Kanuri language and heritage on Wikimedia platforms.
- Responsibility: He will help to mobilize the community members in organizing the project plan activities
Mustybdc (Communication and Outreach Officer)
- Details: is a dedicated Kanuri Wikimedia editor with extensive expertise in various aspects of Wikimedia projects, including content creation, digital archiving, and community engagement. He has contributed significantly to promoting the Kanuri language and culture through open knowledge platforms, helping to bridge the digital gap for underrepresented communities in Northern Nigeria.
- Responsibility: He will play the role of communication/outreach and walfareing the project activates
- Ummusalmasuleiman2001 (Logistics and Dashboard Management)
- Details: she is seasoned and accomplished Wikipedia editor with a deep understanding of Wikimedia project. Umusalmasuleiman2001 is among the frontier women in promoting and preserving Kanuri Language as her mother tongue
- Responsibility: She will play the role of logistics and dashboard management during the project.
- Two other experienced photographers will also be invited as facilitators to give their helping hands in this project especially during the selection of best images to be awarded the prizes.
- 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 Wiki Loves Africa 2026: Rites and Rituals in Central Kanuri Wikimedians Community contest is open to all members of the Central Kanuri Wikimedians Community, as well as individuals outside the community, regardless of their background, profession, or experience. Participation is open to everyone with an interest in photography, culture, or storytelling, including new and existing Wikimedians, professional photographers, and enthusiastic volunteers from across Nigeria. Anyone with original photographs, videos, or audio recordings that reflect the 2026 theme, Rites and Rituals is warmly encouraged to take part. This inclusivity aims to foster collaboration between Wikimedia contributors and the wider creative community, promote knowledge sharing, and highlight the rich cultural heritage of the Kanuri people and neighboring groups on Wikimedia platforms.
- 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 previously discussed this initiative in the Central Kanuri Wikimedians Community’s dedicated WhatsApp group, where members shared valuable insights and suggestions on how best to align our participation in Wiki Loves Africa 2026: Rites and Rituals with our community’s goals. The discussion highlighted the importance of documenting and showcasing the unique rites, rituals, and traditional practices of the Kanuri people as part of our collective effort to preserve and promote cultural heritage through Wikimedia platforms.
- 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)
Geography
- 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 would your participation in Wiki Love Africa make Central Kanuri Wikimedians Community members feel engaged and become attached more to the Wikimedia Movement ?
2. What do you hope to learn from this project ?
3. Do you think partnership and stakeholders engagement will help us achieve this aim ?
4. How did you feel being part of the Wiki Love Africa and what was your experience like meeting other community members through the campaign ?
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 50 | Number of total participants to be reached out and trained |
| Number of editors | 35 | Number of participants uploading a photo |
| Number of organizers | 6 | 4 organizers/facilitators and 2 professional photographers |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 100 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 500 |
| 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)
Wikimedia Outreach Dashboard, and Wikiloves Tool Forge
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)
3127500 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.
2140.5 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).