WikiLinguila/reports/Annual/2023-2024
The WikiLinguila Community User Group presents its annual report on this page, outlining its achievements and activities organized for the year 2024-2025.
Activities and Achievements
Launch of the "Wiki na monɔkɔ mua bísó" Campaign
In November 2023, we launched the "Wiki na monɔkɔ mua bísó" campaign with the goal of boosting volunteer contributions to Wikimedia projects. This initiative aimed to bridge the gap between large Wikipedias and smaller ones by increasing the number of articles and contributors in minority languages such as Lingala (ln), Kikongo (kg), and Tshiluba (lua). The project also extended to Translatewiki and, to a lesser extent, the Wiktionary in Lingala. In mid-January, an online meeting gathered various African communities to present this linguistic project, generating strong commitment to actively participate in this international language competition in February 2025.
The campaign evolved into "WikiForMotherTongue", attracting contributors from around the world. Partners such as Wikitongues and EduWiki Nigeria involved their members with direct initiatives. In Central Africa, over 40 contributors actively participated in editing encyclopedic pages. "WikiForMotherTongue" will potentially become an annual competition in February to celebrate International Mother Language Day, thus enhancing the visibility, diversity, and inclusion of mother languages on Wikimedia.
Collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden and Radio de la Femme
At the end of February 2024, we collaborated with the Embassy of Sweden and Radio de la Femme to create Wikipedia articles about Congolese women, continuing the efforts of previous WikiGap campaigns in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The event, held at Silikin Village in Kinshasa, mobilized over 20 contributors using Wikipedia's automatic translation tool to produce content in local languages. The articles were published on March 8, 2024, in commemoration of International Women's Rights Day.
This collaboration enriched the representation of Congolese women on Wikipedia and supported the visibility of women in local languages. The partnership strengthened the presence of Congolese women on Wikipedia and promoted their visibility in local languages.
Nixon Mukoko’s Intervention at Launch Events in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire
On March 1, 2024, Nixon Mukoko, co-founder of WikiLinguila, certified trainer for the "Read Wikipedia in Class" program, and member of the regional funding committee for sub-Saharan Africa, was invited to Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. He mentored leaders of Wikimedia user groups in the Republic of Congo and participated as a panelist at the Francophone University Agency of Marien Ngouabi University for the launch of the Francophone Contribution Month. He also presented the "Wiki Loves Africa 2024" competition with the theme "Creative Africa".
This intervention highlighted WikiLinguila’s efforts and boosted participation in Wikimedia competitions in the region. It contributed to strengthening local networks and promoting Wikimedia contests in Francophone Africa.
Recognition by UNESCO and Support from the Wikimedia Foundation
In April 2024, following our advocacy for contributions in native languages, the Permanent Secretariat for the National Commission of UNESCO in the DRC recognized WikiLinguila’s efforts to promote the cultural and linguistic heritage of Central Africa. This recognition was preceded by support from the Wikimedia Foundation through its Facebook and Twitter channels.
The official recognition valued our contribution to the preservation and promotion of African languages and cultures. It significantly increased the credibility and visibility of WikiLinguila’s initiatives as a UNESCO club in the cultural and linguistic field.
Selection of a Wikitongues Scholar
In May 2024, Wikitongues selected one of our members for a scholarship as part of its language revitalization program, starting in September 2024 for a duration of one year. Kikongo will be highlighted on Wikipedia, with ongoing collaboration with linguists to enrich the Wiktionary and the Wikipedia in Tshiluba, currently being developed from the Wikimedia projects incubator.
Significant content development in Kikongo and the enhancement of resources available on Wikipedia for this language were achieved. This initiative made a significant contribution to the revitalization and visibility of the Kikongo language.
Participation in IRI and Partner Workshops
In June 2024, we participated in two-day workshops organized at the Memling Hotel in Kinshasa by IRI, USAID, IFES, MONUSCO, and CENI. We shared our experience on gender-related activities in the DRC, highlighting the WikiGap and WikiNkento campaigns in our national languages.
Presenting the successes of our campaigns allowed us to share our expertise with international stakeholders. This participation showcased Wikimedia projects and recognized WikiLinguila’s efforts within the global Wikimedia movement.
Launch of the Trainer Training Program
In July 2024, we launched a trainer training program to strengthen new communities in targeted linguistic areas: Kinshasa and Brazzaville for Lingala, Matadi and Pointe-Noire for Kikongo, and Mbujimayi for Tshiluba. We also included the Great Lakes regions for Swahili, although our main focus is on Lingala, Kikongo, and Tshiluba, languages underrepresented on the web and notably on Wikipedia and its sister projects.
The training and certification of new trainers were completed, with a particular emphasis on gender parity among trainers. This reinforced local capacities and improved coverage of minority languages on Wikimedia projects.
Launch of the "WikiNkento" Campaign
In August 2024, following the WikiGap campaign, we launched "WikiNkento", an initiative aimed at promoting the visibility of African women in African languages on Wikipedias in the Central Africa region. This campaign, which began in July and ended in August 2024, brought together nearly 40 participants.
The campaign saw active participation in the contest and reward programs, encouraging contributions in local languages. It increased the representation of African women on digital platforms while supporting linguistic diversity.
Launch of the "Wiki Loves Earth 2024" Campaign in Congo-Kinshasa
In August 2024, we launched "Wiki Loves Earth 2024" in Congo-Kinshasa to promote the country’s natural heritage. This campaign, within our operational geographic area of Central Africa, highlights the most spoken languages in the region.
The campaign showcased the natural heritage of Congo-Kinshasa through a dedicated contest. It raised awareness of the country’s environmental richness and promoted the natural beauty of the Grand Congo.