Wikimedia Diversity Conference 2013/Documentation/Dumisani Ndubane

Session: Dumisani Ndubane // Wiki Indaba and the African agenda

Abstract

The topic of this session will be the merits of Wiki Indaba and how the event is hoped to be the first organized response to the question of community building in Africa. The session will focus on diversities to be encountered in dealing with Wikimedians and organisations from different parts of Africa.

Starting point / Insights

The African Agenda:

• Activate editing communities
• Foster and support chapters and working groups
• Encourage gender equality
• Break barriers in Wikimedia movement

Africa is not homogenous. Huge challenge to figure out how to get everyone in Africa on board, do so through Indaba.

Why the Indaba:

• Only 1 chapter (South Africa) and 7 planning groups. This must change!
• Few native speakers editing in thier language wikis
• No regional cooperation among existing structures in Africa

Applied for grant; feedback from grant committee was discouraging. Withdrew grant application and think about starting point again: who to invite? goals? how to engage? Community input session, 22 respondents, 20 are African editors, 10 are active editors; 5 countries (including North Africa), 3 females. Very supportive of idea.

Points to be discussed:

• How to change the greater Wikimedia community perceptions about Africa and African communities (don't even know that local language Wikipedias are available)
• Challenges faced by African working groups with AffComm (most have been trying to form for 2 years; is AffComm doing enough to support them? figure out what's keeping them from forming)
• Challenges of doing volunteer work in Africa and how to overcome these (motivations)
• Gender equality in African Wikimedia (increase in interest in chapter activities from women -- already seeing these with Ghana and South Africa, but how do you replicate that to other African communities?)

Big picture

• Digital divide is rescending. Africa has the fastest growing mobile industry.
• By 2015, sub-Saharan Africa will break the electricity barrier (more people will have mobile phones/tablets than electricity!)
• WP Zero gives free access to Wikipedia, even on feature phones. Also available in USSD via SMS.
• Are we ready for these projections?!

more info: www.wikiindaba.net