WikiAfrica Hour/Episodes/2025
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Every Wikimedia project thrives on trust — and behind that trust are contributors who hold extended rights: administrators, interface editors, stewards, and many others who help ensure safety, fairness, and functionality across our platforms.
In this episode of WikiAfrica Hour, we demystify how extended rights actually work: What are they? Who holds them? How are they granted? And how do these roles shape the health and governance of Wikimedia projects? We also reflect on insights from the first-ever Extended Rights Pre-Conference at Wikimania Nairobi 2025 — exploring the ideas, feedback, and outcomes that emerged from this historic gathering. Finally, we discuss diversity and inclusion: How can more contributors from Africa and underrepresented communities access these trusted roles? What barriers still exist? And how can we build a more balanced and transparent Wikimedia governance for the future?
Our guests are...
- Natalia Szafran, she has been an active contributor and community member for over a decade. She serves the Polish Wikipedia as an administrator and previously held roles as an arbitrator and oversighter. She also serves as an advisor to the Wikimedia CEE Hub and the Volunteer Supporters Network. Beyond her volunteer work, she has professional experience within the Wikimedia movement. She previously worked at Wikimedia Poland as a Community Support Manager and is currently a Lead Movement Communications Specialist at the Wikimedia Foundation, focusing on the European region. Her work centers on celebrating Wikimedians and supporting users with extended rights.
- Konan N'Da N'Dri, He joined the movement in 2023 as a member, project manager, and trainer within Wikimedia Côte d'Ivoire and quickly became an active force in supporting the WikiChallenge African Schools project. He contributes as an administrator on the French Wikipedia and participates in local initiatives such as #WikiLovesAfrica 2025 and the Lingua Libre workshops.
- Martin Rulsch, He is a steward, oversighter, CentralNotice administrator and sysop on Meta and a sysop at en.wikipedia and commons.wikimedia, a former sysop on de.wikipedia. He is also the 2024 Wikimedia Laureate of the Year.
Hosting them
- Nitesh Gill, part of Open Knowledge Initiatives team as Program officer at IIIT Hyderabad and a long-time Wikimedian recognised with a 2025 Honourable Mention. She works on leadership development, community engagement, and open-knowledge collaborations, while contributing to Punjabi translation and regional movement-building.
Aired Live on: 17th December 2025
In Focus:
Sum up of In Focus sections during 2025!
Languages are more than words — they carry the identity, history, and culture of entire communities. In this episode of WikiAfrica Hour, we explore how Wikimedia projects are helping to preserve and celebrate Africa’s linguistic diversity.
From the efforts of Wikitongues and Lingua Libre to document endangered and indigenous languages, to the challenges faced by local contributors, this conversation dives deep into why language matters in open knowledge.
Join us as our guests share their experiences, collaborations, and hopes for the future — including the role of AI, partnerships, and how young people can take pride in contributing to Wikimedia projects in their mother tongues.
Tune in and be part of the dialogue about preserving Africa’s voices for generations to come.
Our guests are...
- Tochi Precious, a Language Activist, Multilingual Project Manager, Co-founder & Executive Director of Igbo Wikimedia Organization, and Wikimedian in Residence at Wikitongues. She's a member of the Language Committee and a Board Member at Wiki in Africa and African.
- Subhashish Panigrahi, a documentary filmmaker and multimedia artist whose work advocates for the protection of endangered and indigenous languages. As a community manager, Panigrahi led different roles at Wikimedia Foundation, Centre for Internet and Society, Mozilla, and the Internet Society from 2012 to 2019.
- Dr Sara Thomas, is a Programme Manager at Wikimedia UK, with a remit for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and volunteering across the UK. She was formerly Wikimedian in Residence at Museums Galleries Scotland, and the Scottish Library and Information Council.
- Hugo LOPEZ, a former sinologist, Wikimedian in residence (University of Toulouse), senior Wikimedian for 2 decades. In the past decade, Hugo helped document hundreds languages as the main coordinator of Wikimedia’s language diversity recording project Lingualibre.org. He also co-maintainer SignIt, a sign language web extension and work on a Whistled Occitan dictionary.
Hosting them
- Lucy Iwala, a language professional and community engagement strategist with expertise in language localisation, digital content management, and multilingual project coordination. Her work bridges gender, linguistic and cultural gaps, ensuring inclusive and accessible communication for global audiences. She is a Wikimedian and Igbo Lingua translation manager in the Global Voices Community.
Aired Live on: 26th November 2025
In Focus:
Inspiring open interview with Tochi Precious
In English
When African Schools Take the Pen of the Future: The WikiChallenge 2025
This episode of WikiAfrica Hour celebrates the remarkable journey of WikiChallenge Écoles Afrique 2025 — a unique contest that empowers African schoolchildren to share stories from their communities on Vikidia, the encyclopedia for young people. Through this episode, we’ll explore how the initiative blends education, free knowledge, and creativity, while addressing key themes such as copyright and open access, partnerships that make it possible, and the challenges and opportunities ahead — including AI, distance learning, and multilingual expansion. Join us as we celebrate this year’s winners, highlight the partnerships that make WikiChallenge possible, and feature insights from local organisers across Africa in a special In Focus segment.
Live on Wednesday, October 29th at 16:00 UTC
In French
Quand les écoles africaines prennent la plume du futur : le WikiChallenge 2025
Cet épisode de WikiAfrica Hour met à l’honneur le parcours inspirant du WikiChallenge Écoles Afrique 2025 — un concours unique qui permet aux élèves africains de raconter les histoires de leurs communautés sur Vikidia, l’encyclopédie pour les jeunes. Nous aborderons comment cette initiative allie éducation, connaissance libre et créativité, tout en explorant des thèmes essentiels tels que le droit d’auteur et l’accès libre, les partenariats indispensables à sa réussite, ainsi que les défis et perspectives d’avenir — intelligence artificielle, apprentissage à distance et ouverture linguistique. Rejoignez-nous pour célébrer les lauréats de cette année, remercier chaleureusement les partenaires du projet, et découvrir les témoignages des organisateurs locaux à travers une section spéciale In Focus.
En direct le mercredi 29 octobre à 16h00 UTC
Our guests are...
- 'Florence Devourd', A Wikipedian since 2002, a former Chair of Wikimedia Foundation and a founding member of Wikimedia France. She is the Co-Executive Director of Wiki in Africa. Since 2013, Florence is the co-leader on projects related to Wikipedia and Africa, such as Wiki Loves Africa.
- 'Konan N'Da N'Dri', Member of Wikimedia Côte d'Ivoire, project manager, and Wikimedia trainer. He joined Wikimedia Côte d'Ivoire as a volunteer in 2023. He support the Wikichallenge African Schools project.
- 'Tchuileu Ngangom Alexandra', a Wikimedian within the Wikimedians of Cameroon User Group community. Responsible for several projects within the community, she has led local projects such as WikiCiné, WikiKwatt and international campaigns such as Wiki Loves Folklore and Wiki Loves Earth. Since 2023, Alexandra has been coordinating the activities of Wikichallenge Écoles d'Afrique in Cameroon, with deployment across all of the Orange Foundation's digital schools.
- 'Tafsir FALL', Educational Mediator for Senegal, in charge of deploying projects related to digital technology in collaboration with the Orange Foundation.
Hosting them
- 'Minette Lontsie', a creative entrepreneur, trained journalist and wikimedian from Cameroon with over 10 years of experience working in the fields of technology, cultural and creative industries and digital marketing. She started contributing to Wikimedia projects in 2016 and has been a member of the Wikimedians of Cameroon User group since 2017. She is passionate about filling the online content gap about Africa, with a strong interest in arts and culture, gender equality and IT.
Aired Live on: 29/10/2025
In Focus:
In Focus segment featuring experience of local organisers.
Wikimania 2025 marked a historic milestone — for the first time, the global Wikimedia community gathered in East Africa! In this special episode of WikiAfrica Hour, we reflect on:
- What made Nairobi 2025 a truly unique Wikimania experience
- The impact on African communities, languages, and collaborations
- The behind-the-scenes challenges and success stories
- Lessons learned and inspiring moments to carry forward
Our guests are...
- Carol Mwaura, Scholarship Coordination Lead for Wikimania 2025! With 15+ years in academic, community, and institutional libraries, Carol is a Library and Information Science professional passionate about expanding access to knowledge. Beyond the library, Carol is a founding member and Co-Lead of the Wikimedia Community User Group Kenya. She champions global campaigns on open knowledge, human rights, and gender equity, and has shared her work at international conferences, including Wikimania, while serving on global scholarship committees.
- Butch Bustria, an Overseas Filipino Worker / Wikimedian (OFW) based in Singapore. Butch has dedicated his spare time to advancing Wikimedia projects since his first edit in 2005. In 2010, he co-founded Wikimedia Philippines and has since played a pivotal role in organizing ESEAP conferences across the region. He currently serves on the Regional Funds Committee for ESEAP, was Event Lead for Wikimania 2023 in Singapore, and is Vice Chair of the Wikimania Steering Committee.
- Bobby Shabangu, a passionate advocate for open knowledge and digital inclusion. Bobby has dedicated his career to expanding access to information and fostering strong community engagement. Through his roles at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Wikimedia South Africa, he has built a rich skill set in strategic communication, project management, and organisational leadership — all in service of making knowledge more open and inclusive.
Hosting them
- Romeo Ronald Lomora:, co-lead of communication committee of Wikimania 2025. Romeo is a knowledge troublemaker in the best way possible obsessed with breaking down walls between experts and everyday people. With roots in humanities, teaching, and open platforms like Wikimedia and OpenStreetMap, he spends his time turning “hard-to-reach info” into community power tools. As a leader with Open Knowledge South Sudan, Romeo champions projects that make information not just free, but freeing whether it’s about human rights, education, climate change, or just figuring out better ways communities can thrive. In short: if knowledge is power, Romeo’s guilty of distributing it without a license.
Aired Live on:
In Focus:
A collated video featuring highlights from the daily Morning Briefings, where conference speakers shared insights and takeaways.
This special WikiAfrica Hour episode dedicated to Wiki Loves Africa 2025 This year’s winners, jury members, and local organizers come together to share the inspiring stories behind the scenes, the challenges and joys of judging, and the vibrant community efforts that make this annual photo contest such a success.
Our guests are...
- Wiki Loves Africa 2025 winners, local organisers, and jury members, .
Hosting them
- Hilary Ogali, Wiki Loves Africa Facilitator
Aired Live on: 27/8/2025
In Focus:
an interview conducted in WAH46 with Hilary Ogali, WLA facilitator, and Dappa Solomon, WLA local organiser who made a big splash in 2025!
How does funding shape the future of free knowledge in Africa and beyond? In this episode of WikiAfrica Hour, we dive deep into the world of Wikimedia grants — from rapid funds to multi-year support. We bring together voices from the Wikimedia Foundation and real-life grant recipients to demystify the process and share valuable tips on choosing the right grant, applying effectively, and navigating the Fluxx system.
Our guests are...
- 'Jorge Vargas', Director of Partnerships at Wikimedia Foundation.
- 'Willy Buloso', Program Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa at Wikimedia Foundation.
- 'Candy Khohliwe', Program Coordinator for the Wikimedia Community User Group Botswana.
Hosting them
- 'Florence Devouard', A Wikipedian since 2002, a former Chair of Wikimedia Foundation and a founding member of Wikimedia France. She is the Co-Executive Director of Wiki in Africa. Since 2013, Florence is the co-leader on projects related to Wikipedia and Africa, such as Wiki Loves Africa.
Aired Live on: 30/7/2025
In Focus:
Fuxx Demo presented by Davit Saroyan: Senior Program Officer at Wikimedia Foundation. He supports the grant making Portal and the grant programs.
Davit explains how you can use Fluxx and what are the main challenges people face using it. This amazing IF part navigates how you can register, apply, and report your grant!
What does youth empowerment really look like in the Wikimedia movement? In this powerful episode of WikiAfrica Hour, we chat with young Wikimedians who are leading campaigns, building communities, and shaping the future of open knowledge. Our guests share their journeys, proudest achievements, and what it takes to thrive as young leaders in the movement. We dive into the challenges they face, how they’re using Wikimedia to build skills, and what true youth inclusion should look like by 2030. From AI and TikTok to leadership and mentorship, this episode is a must-watch for anyone passionate about the future of Wikimedia.
Our guests are...
- Ferdinando Traversa, President of Wikimedia Italy.
- Ndahiro Derrick Alter, a Rwandan advocate for peace, open knowledge, gender equality, and youth engagement in governance. He is the founder of Open Source Knowledge Rwanda (Wikimedia Rwanda).
- Ahmad Ali Karim, External Relations Ambassador, Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia
Hosting them
- Shahen, member of Wikimedia Armenia User Group
Aired Live on: 25/6/2025
In Focus:
Highlitst (Echoes) from Wikimedia Youth Conference in Prague
Behind every Wikimedia project is a network of passionate individuals—and the structures that help them thrive. In this episode, we explore the types of collaborative groups that power the Wikimedia movement, from User Groups to Thematic Organizations and Chapters. Why are these bodies so essential, and how do they help communities organize themselves around shared goals, whether local or thematic? We unpack the steps to start a group, how to choose the right structure, and why some regions have many groups coexisting. Our guests share ideas for building capacity, attracting leaders, and evolving from grassroots efforts into stable organizations. We also discuss practical insights on funding—from Wikimedia sources to external partnerships—and how communities sustain themselves financially and strategically. Finally, we dive into the challenges of long-term sustainability and what it takes to keep governance structures healthy, adaptive, and impactful over time.
Our guests are...
- Tochi Precious:, Co-founder & Executive Director of Igbo Wikimedia Organization, and Wikimedian in Residence at Wikitongues. She's a member of the Language Committee and a Board Member at Wiki in Africa and African & Proud.
- Harriet Bayel, She serves as the Community Lead of the GOI Foundation and is a member of the Affiliations Committee. From 2021 to 2023, she also served as a member of the Regional Grants Committee for Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Martin Hipangwa, He founded Wikimedia Community User Group Namibia, which strives for the advocacy of digital literacy skills and open-access knowledge platforms such as Wikipedia and its sister projects in Namibia.
- KOFFI Kangah Donatien:, Discovering Wikipedia in 2012, he co-founded the Wikimedia Côte d'Ivoire User Group. His commitment extends internationally as a trainer and member of the Wikifranca microgrant committee. He also collaborates with several African communities and organizes the French-speaking Wikiconvention 2023 in Abidjan.
Hosting them
- Delphine Ménard, She began contributing to Wikimedia projects in 2004, and her involvement soon expanded beyond editing to include roles in community governance and organizational development. She served as the Wikimedia Foundation’s Chapters Coordinator and held board positions with both Wikimedia France and Wikimedia Deutschland, as well as on the Funds Dissemination Committee (FDC). She recently was appointed to the newly formed Global Resources Distribution Committee (GRDC).
Aired Live on: 28/5/2025
In Focus:
Highlights from WikiAfrica Hour 2025
Paused
Aired Live on: Paused
March is International Women’s History Month, and in celebration, we’re hosting inspiring women from across the Wikimedia Movement to discuss how the Movement supports women, and if we could be doing more. In episode 44, well be thinking about:
- How does Wikimedia’s 2030 strategy support women?
- What roles do our community intiatives play in empowering women?
- What would 50/50 representation across all settings mean? Are there any disadvantages?
- How might recent policy changes across the globe that aim to discredit or dismantle DEI initiatives affect the Open movement? Or Wikimedia?
Our guests are...
- Victoria Doronina:, She started contributing to Russian Wikipedia in 2006, became an admin, and twice served on the Arbitration Committee. In 2021, she was elected to the WMF Board of Trustees and re-elected in 2024.
- Bukola James, certified librarian. Sub-Saharan Liason of Let's Connect. Co-founder pf Africa Wiki Women. Vice Chair of Wikipedia+Education User Group. Chairman of Learnovation Network Foundation
- Franziska Heine, Executive Director of Wikimedia Deutschland
Hosting them
- Isla Haddow-Flood, a writer, editor and project strategist who is passionate about harnessing communication technology and media platforms for the advancement of open access to knowledge; specifically, knowledge that relates to and enhances the understanding of Africa via the Open Movement (and especially Wikipedia). Isla is the chair and the co-leader of Wiki In Africa.
Aired Live on: 26/3/2025
In Focus:
Inspiring Open interview with Victoria Doronina:
What do we mean by decolonising knowledge? Why is it important to document that on Wikimedia projects? What are the main settled projects inside (and even outside) Wikimedia concerning this topic? How can we improve these existing initiatives and encourage others to start documenting? All these questions and beyond are going to be answered by guests who are experienced in this topic during the 43rd episode of WAH!
Our guests are...
- 'Iolanda Pensa', a wikipedian and researcher. She organized in 2016 “Wikimania Esino Lario”, she is chair of the Wikimania Steering Committee, former chair and now national coordinator for GLAMs of Wikimedia Italia. Leader of De-colonising knowledge on wikipedia in Switzerland.
- 'Asuru Lutherking Petercan', a research assistant in architectural history and heritage preservation. contributing to open source platforms, training more professionals to contribute and also starting an architectural heritage community to join in the contribution of Heritage architecture and GLAM related knowledge in Nigeria.
- 'Sandra Schmitt Soster', Sandra Soster is the GLAM and Culture Manager of Wiki Movimento Brasil since 2022. She holds a PhD degree of Architecture and Urbanism by University of São Paulo (USP).
- 'Chantal Edie Ntube', has a BSC in History, a Masters I in Political Sciences, and an HND in HSC from Reading in the UK. Co-creator of once upon a time symposium in Yaounde Cameroon.
Hosting them
- 'Achal Prabhala', a public health activist who works against medicine monopolies in India, Brazil and South Africa. Formerly, he spent several years working against copyright monopolies, as well as supporting new models of open knowledge and scholarship. As a former Wikimedia Foundation Advisory Board member (2006-2018), he worked closely inside the Wikimedia movement, and in 2011, initiated a project around oral citations, addressing one of the challenges facing Wikipedia.
Aired Live on: 26/2/2025
In Focus:
Inspiring open interview with Sandra Soster
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Unfortunately, not all places have the same access to the internet, and as the wikimedia community aims at equity and variability we need to focus on finding methods to reach places with little connectivity to guarantee free knowledge distribution everywhere. In this episode, guests, who have experience on working on offline projects and initiatives, will discuss the need of offline methods, the idea of static content, the support offered from the Wikimedia foundation and some chapters and user groups, and examples of settled projects that serve the offline.
Our guests are...
- Stephane Coillet-Matillon, partner with Emmanuel Engelhart to grow Kiwix, a neat software making internet content accessible to people without permanent connectivity.
- Tim Moody, spends most of his time trying to make Internet in a Box useful to children and adults who lack a connection to the World-Wide-Web. He dreams of a day when the Library of Alexandria and the House of Wisdom are in everyone's hands.
- Maxwell Beganim, an Open enthusiast ,educator and a sustainability leader. He pioneered the implementation of Kiwix and digital literacy in Senior high schools in Ghana. He is currently the Africa (Anglophone) Coordinator for Open Knowledge Foundation Network. A Cofounder of the Ghanaian Languages Wikimedia
Hosting them
- Nichole Saad, former Senior Program Manager, Education. Through founding the Open Learning Collective, she helps organizations around the world develop innovative education programs, empower teachers with effective training, and navigate complex education policies.
Aired Live on: 29/1/2025
In Focus:
Inspiring open interview with Nichole Saad