Create noise about the 2026 theme: Rites and Rituals

On this page, you will find ideas and resources to help you to communicate about the Wiki Loves Africa 2026 contest theme Rites and Rituals.

This is one part of the Wiki Loves Africa 2026 Communications Hub for Organisers.

Use these other pages to ...

Use the 2026 Rites and Rituals theme materials and messaging.

Use the Media Toolkit to enage with the press and partners about your Wiki Loves Africa 2026 activities and events.

Talk about the Wiki Loves Africa contest and use the brand materials.

Check out the Social Media Guidelines.

Find some interesting design tools and tricks.

Messaging for Wiki Loves Africa 2026: Rites and Rituals

For more guidance on what images could be used in the theme, share the Wiki Loves Africa 2026: Theme

The 2026 prize categories

There will be several winners. The international prizes are:

Photography:

1st Prize : USD 1,000
2nd Prize : USD 900
3rd Prize : USD 700
Wilson Oluoha prize: USD 1,000

Media (Video, Audio, Graphics, Photo Essays):

Best audio prize: USD 700
Narrative Video prize : USD 1,000
Reportage Video prize : USD 1000
Clip Video prize : USD 200
Photo Essay prize : USD 500

In addition, some of the local national teams will host national ceremonies and national prizes.

Local teams can decide to award separate national prizes at their discretion. Please review the countries page to see what is happening where and what prizes are available at a local level.

Why this theme

The theme Farm to Plate, celebrates fields, agricultural practices, farm products, farm machines, people farming, food transformation and processing, cooking, restaurants, dressing on plates, cooking material and the entire process (or a segment of it) that in consists of transforming farm produce into food by Africans across the continent. As a theme, Farm to Plate encompasses various aspects of agriculture.

Wiki Loves Africa's theme for 2026 Rites and Rituals invites contributors from across the continent to document the cultural, spiritual, and social practices that shape identities and communities throughout Africa. Participants are encouraged to capture the full breadth of traditional and contemporary rituals, including life-cycle ceremonies such as births, naming rituals, initiations, weddings, and funerals; spiritual and religious practices such as prayers, blessings, healing ceremonies, and sacred dances; and community festivals, masquerades, and seasonal celebrations. Submissions may also highlight the objects, symbols, costumes, masks, crafts, and artistic expressions that accompany ceremonial practices, as well as daily and household rituals that preserve cultural continuity. The contest further welcomes documentation of communal rites, leadership ceremonies, performances, and forms of movement—such as drumming, chanting, and processions—that hold cultural significance. Winning entries will place particular emphasis on media that authentically portrays the diversity, depth, and cultural meaning of Africa’s rites and rituals.

The highlight of winning submissions will be focused on media that depicts cultural, spiritual, and social practices

The types of images accepted under this theme

Wiki Loves Africa 2026 Communications Platforms

You can follow Wiki Loves Africa 2025 on the following Communications Platforms

Communications Platforms

Discussion channels:

Facebook organisers group (not used any more)
Telegram group

Communications materials from previous years:

Wiki Loves Africa 2025 Communication Elements

2026 Contest Communication Materials

Wiki Loves Africa will run for the 12th time in 2026. All marketing materials for Wiki Loves Africa 2026 can be found on the Wiki Loves Africa 2026 Communications category on Commons. The communications materials for previous years can be found on the Wiki Loves Africa brand identity page.

Theme Colours

There are 3 colour sets for Wiki Loves Africa this year. Please use one of the following colour palettes.
Option 1

#acdcd2
R172, G220, B210
C32, M0, Y20, K0

#f79431
R247, G148, B49
C0, M50, Y91, K0

#5d3a79
R93, G58, B121
C72, M88, Y17, K14

Option 2

#cdcece
R205, G206, B206
C17, M13, Y13, K2

#e35498
R227, G84, B152
C5, M82, Y4, K0

#3f4483
R63, G68, B131
C87, M82, Y15, K10

Option 3

#b9e3ea
R185, G227, B234
C77, M0, Y7, K0

#f1615f
R241, G97, B95
C0, M77, Y58, K0

#714361
R113, G67, B97
C55, M80, Y40, K21

Marketing and Social Media visuals

Publicity Posters (editable pdfs)

Publicity poster (jpgs)

Social media cards

Social media information 'cards' are available on Canva for organisers at these links:

Facebook: Launch Posts in English

Instagram: Launch Posts in English

X/Twitter: Launch Posts in English

LinkedIn: Launch Posts in English

Talk about the 2026 Contest

Use the Media and Partner Toolkit to engage with the press and partners about your Wiki Loves Africa 2026 activities and events

Be Social!

Make some noise on social media about Wiki Loves Africa 2026 - Check out the Social Media Guidelines to find out how!

Talking about Wikimedia: Branding and communications guidelines for Organisers

The Wikimedia Movement has its own set of branding guidelines that are separate from Wiki Loves Africa.

Consult the Communications Resource Centre to get guidance on how to use Wikimedia materials: