Icebreakers, Annual Reports and Nurturing Connection: Wiki In Africa looks back on 2024

As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on our journey—both as the Wiki In Africa team and our role within the wider African Wikimedian community. 2024 has been a year filled with significant achievements for Wiki In Africa.

All images via Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA. Full attributions are available on our website.

Afek Ben-Chahed – Tunisia (UTC+01:00)
Wiki Loves Women/WikiChallenge African Schools Community Facilitator
User:Afek91

Afek is a librarian who has worked at the Diocesan Library of Tunis since 2017 and has been an active member of the Wikimedia movement since 2016. Beyond her roles with Wiki In Africa, she is well-known in the community as the General Secretary of WikiFranca and a member of Wikimedia Tunisia.
 

As a co-founder of Africvs, a youth collective celebrating Tunisian heritage, Afek brings together her passions for music, writing, art, and history. Fluent in Arabic, French, and English, she also finds joy in crafting handmade items, nurturing her plants, and indulging in her love of cheese. Afek’s Wikimedia journey began when she won the top prize at WikiWomen in Tunisia in 2016, a milestone that propelled her into organising campaigns, attending conferences, and participating in events both locally and internationally.

What excites Afek most about her position at Wiki In Africa? The opportunity to contribute to a cause that aligns with her beliefs. She finds fulfilment in knowing that her work directly supports initiatives designed to make a positive impact on society.

We all know Afek as a confident and accomplished powerhouse, but that quiet confidence has its roots in some unforgettable learning experiences:
 

One of the funniest yet most stressful moments of my life happened on the first day of my internship in Berlin. Excited but nervous, I was trying to find my way to the place I was renting when my phone died. To make matters worse, I ended up at the wrong train station entirely. I spent what felt like hours wandering around, completely lost, until I met a kind man who offered to help – in German. As we spoke, we discovered we shared the same native language! After a bit of conversation (and some relief), I realised I was only one station away from my destination. It was a chaotic start, but looking back, it always makes me laugh.
 

Afek’s Icebreaker: If you could have dinner with anyone throughout history, who would it be and what would you want to talk about?

“I would choose Adam or Eve. I want to understand their thoughts, emotions, and motivations in that fateful moment when they decided to eat the forbidden fruit—and how they perceive the impact of their actions on humanity and life on Earth.”

Donia El Domiaty - Egypt (UTC+02:00)
WikiAfrica Hour/Tools Community Facilitator
User:دنيا

Donia is an Egyptian medical intern and an active member of the Wikimedia community. She serves as a Board Member of the Egypt Wikimedians User Group.

An editor on Arabic Wikipedia since May 2019 and a rollbacker since September 2020, Donia is the founder of the Wikipedian Editor Project and has organised major events, including the Egyptian editions of Wiki Loves Monuments (2020 & 2023), Wiki Loves Africa (2021), and Wiki Loves Earth (2022 & 2023).
 

What excites Donia most about her role at Wiki In Africa? Contributing to impactful initiatives like WikiAfrica Hour. As a facilitator for this engaging vodcast, she aims to continually improve it by reaching new guests and audiences. She believes it provides a valuable platform to explore experiences, projects, and both in-wiki and out-wiki challenges. Regarding tools like ISA Tool and WikiFundi, Donia sees them as promising solutions to address community challenges in a fun and engaging way. She is committed to leveraging her experience in research and data analysis to build partnerships and organise larger projects to further develop and expand the reach of these tools. 
 

With her busy schedule—managing her hospital internship, her role at Wiki In Africa, and her broader Wikimedia contributions—Donia values efficiency and loathes time-wasters:
 

If I could make one rule to change how the world works, it would be to ban side chats in the workplace until tasks are complete. There’s nothing more boring than waiting in a queue while someone chats about their latest family drama.
 

Donia does however appreciate children and feels a great need to advocate for their proper care. When she was a small child, she had a close call when her parents took their eyes off her for a moment. 

When I was just a little child, still crawling, my parents briefly took their eyes off me while they were busy with a plumber fixing something in our house. At the time, we lived on the only completed floor, and the roof had no protective walls. Unbeknownst to them, I climbed the stairs. By the time they realized I was missing, I was already at the roof’s edge—just one foot away from falling. Panicked but calm, they coaxed me back and pulled me to safety just in time. I often think—imagine if I had fallen and never had the chance to contribute to Wikimedia projects!
 

Donia’s Icebreaker: Would you rather be able to travel 50 years into the past or 50 years into the future? And why?

​​​​​​​“I would travel 50 years into the past to experience life in my parents’ time. I know life in Egypt back then was simpler and more formal—and I’d love to try on those old-fashioned clothes!”

Florence Devouard – France  (UTC+01:00)
Director and Co-founder
User:Anthere

Florence is by far the most highly regarded Wikimedian on the Wiki In Africa team. She holds a master’s degree in agronomy, a background that shaped her interest in information dissemination and collaboration. Known by her username Anthere, Florence has been a Wikipedian since 2002, driven by a passion for democratising information globally.

She co-founded Wikimedia France and served on the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation, including a tenure as Chair, where she focused on strengthening Wikipedia’s structure and fostering community engagement. Beyond Wikipedia, Florence is a staunch advocate for open culture and knowledge accessibility, contributing to various non-profits and serving as a Wikipedian-in-Residence at the World Intellectual Property Organisation from 2020 to 2024.
 

What excites Florence most about her role at Wiki In Africa? Contributing to its mission of increasing Africa's visibility online and empowering its citizens to share educational content under free licenses. Since 2013, she has worked to promote open knowledge and global participation, helping Wiki In Africa grow into a recognized stakeholder within the Wikimedia community. She finds the collaboration of diverse skills and approaches particularly rewarding.
 

With so many accolades under her belt, it’s no surprise that Florence doesn’t like to “do nothing” in her spare time—if such a thing exists:
 

Hmmm... doing “nothing” is surprisingly hard for me. I need to keep myself busy, or I quickly get bored. I spend my time reading (mostly science fiction or fantasy) or playing video games. I love gardening while listening to a history podcast and, if I’m lucky, sneaking in a small nap in my hammock. A perfect day also involves some sport or at least an outdoor activity, like a long walk or a swim in the nearby sea. I enjoy a good chat—with the kids, the neighbours, the shop assistant, or really anyone up for a conversation. And if the day ends with a fireworks show? Perfection!
 

Florence’s life of achievement and dedication led to her being knighted in 2008 as a Knight in the French National Order of Merit.
 

It is a point of pride at Wiki In Africa that while Florence and Isla were setting up Wiki In Africa, Florence was fighting and overcame cancer.

I am a cancer survivor. This week, I was officially declared "cured" and I feel great. It was hard at some point, physically, mentally, financially and socially. We are crossed by multiple doubts, about the future, from the anxiety of not seeing our children grow up, to the most trivial (I remember telling myself that I would never know the end of Game of Thrones...). But it is also the opportunity to sort things out, to question ourselves, to reorient our life a little. Ten years down the line, there are still some after-effects but mostly, I still have this devouring desire to know what happens next...
 

Florence’s Icebreaker: If you were stranded on an island, and you could choose one book, one song and one object, what would they be?

“I would choose my reading tablet. PACKED with books (science fiction, fantasy, and history being my favourites). And a bicycle with a dynamo to generate electricity to keep the tablet alive. I am not sure I would need a song… I think the sound of the waves and the birds should do the trick.”

Hilary Ogali – Nigeria (UTC+01:00)
Wiki Loves Africa Interim Project Facilitator
User:Ogalihillary

Hilary Ogali is a civil engineer, language advocate, and  Open and free knowledge advocate. He contributes primarily to Wikimedia Commons, Igbo Wikipedia, Igala Wikipedia and Wikidata. Since joining the Igbo Commons Hub in 2022, he has organized projects like Wiki Loves Africa, Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos on Igbo Wikipedia, Description Translation Project, and many more. Hilary served as an English language ambassador for Wiki Loves Africa in 2024.  He is currently working towards co-founding a Wikimedian group for architects in Nigeria.
 

What excites Hilary most about his role at Wiki In Africa? The opportunity to contribute in preserving African culture and telling African stories to the whole world. Nobody can tell African stories better than us, bringing Africans together under the umbrella of Wiki Loves Africa to preserve our culture and tell our stories excites him more. 

Hilary is the most recent addition to the Wiki In Africa team, and perhaps this is why he is also the quietest. However, we discovered that he has a history of not talking, as an anecdote about his father—an influential presence in his life who also gave him his first job—demonstrates:
 

When I was young, I had a fight with my dad over a Bible. He had gone to a church meeting in another town and brought back a beautiful Good News Bible that I fell in love with the moment I saw it. I asked him if I could have it, but he refused. I pleaded with him, hoping he’d change his mind, but instead, he gave it to my elder sister—who hadn’t even asked for it. I was heartbroken. I cried, upset that I had been denied my first personal Bible, and refused to speak to my dad for several hours because of it.
 

Hilary’s Icebreaker: What did you think you would be when you grew up?

“An engineer. I was so good with gadgets, I could open anything, find what was wrong, and get it fixed.”

Isla Haddow-Flood – Cape Town (UTC+02:00)
Director and Co-founder
User:Islahaddow

Isla Haddow-Flood is a proudly African Wikipedian. Since 2011, she has initiated and co-led projects to advance the WikiAfrica movement, contributing to the growth of Wikimedia communities and increasing African content on Wikimedia and other open platforms. 
 

Isla studied fine art at university and is currently completing her Masters in African Studies at University of Cape Town. It took Isla a while to find the open movement, but prior to that the common theme in her professional life shows a single-minded dedication to showcasing the creative voices of Africa’s artists, filmmakers, broadcasters, photographers, poets, writers and musicians. In 2011 her increasing investment in Africa’s creative and cultural voice and her curiosity about the open movement coincided with working on the WikiAfrica project and joining as a Wikimedian. It has been an incredible ride ever since then.
 

What excites Isla most about her role at Wiki In Africa? Much of the global Open movement revolves around doing things differently. Experimentation and innovation are key. Similarly, succeeding on African terms with African ideas requires embracing the unusual and the unexpected. It involves approaching every problem from a fresh perspective, with a unique attitude, and from an unconventional starting point.

The fusion of the Open movement’s principles with practices across the African continent is always exhilarating, consistently interesting, and never disappointing or lacking in value. Even when the original goals are not fully achieved, there is always something new to learn. Wiki In Africa has redefined how to work effectively across this vast geographic, ideological, and cultural landscape, all while respecting and embracing the unique contexts and communities of local cultures. This is the most rewarding work Isla can think of, especially when she reflects on how far the collective of African Wikimedians has come since 2011.
 

Isla hasn’t always worked in the Open community. Her first job was at the oldest auction house in the UK, a job she secured whilst working behind the bar in a pub on holiday from University., which may be the inspiration behind the title she imagines for her future autobiography. Her successful trajectory into the Wiki-sphere may have been more airborne however, if not for a team of adept surgeons when she was five. 
 

When I was born, I didn’t have any cartilage in my ears. My ears used to flap in the wind until I was sent off to the very same hospital in the UK where plastic surgery was pioneered during the 2nd world war. I remember arriving at the hospital aged 5 and having to go home and come back again a week later as I had a cold. A week later, my ears no longer flapped in the wind like Dumbo the elephant, and my brother had to find something else to tease me about.
 

Isla’s Icebreaker: What would you title your autobiography?
 “Wrong place, right time”

Nonny Ntahla - Cape Town - UTC+02:00
Administrative Assistance
User:actveso

Psychology and Political Sciences. Complementing her academic background, she holds a Health and Fitness Diploma and possesses a deep-seated passion for the intersection of mental health and sports/physical exercise, recognising their potential for catalysing social and community development.
 

Currently pursuing a Finance Degree, Nonny aspires to leverage her financial knowledge to support non-profits in assessing vital funding and other financial needs. As an Administrative Assistant at Wiki In Africa, she is actively engaged in acquiring diverse skills and knowledge, with a focus on advancing her commitment to promoting mental and physical health. Through her multifaceted experiences, Nonny remains dedicated to making meaningful contributions to the well-being of individuals and communities.
 

Nonny is the air traffic controller of Wiki In Africa, organising the disparate and creative minds of the team into a cohesive unit. She has trained us to use multiple online platforms and apps—crucial tools to keep a remote team ticking along smoothly. She revealed that her perfect day would be meticulously scheduled the night before:
 

My idea of a perfect day would begin with waking up naturally, having my schedule organized the night before, engaging in activities that bring me joy and fulfilment, and having the financial freedom to pursue my desires.

Nonny doesn’t just work in admin; she is also a vital member of WikiAfrica Hour, running the backstage for every episode, compiling and editing the News. She has also become adept at video editing, and has added tremendous value to the team’s outreach and engagement with her contributions to our YouTube Channel. 
 

Nonny’s singular character is shaped in part by an early loss:

Not many people know that I was a twin. Unfortunately, my twin didn’t survive, which led to my parents naming me Nontlahla, meaning "the lucky one" in isiXhosa. The name is a constant reminder of how precious life is and how fortunate I am to be here. It’s a bittersweet part of my identity that has always made me reflect on gratitude and resilience.
 

Nonny’s Icebreaker: Would you rather be the funniest or smartest person in the room?

“I think funny people are inherently smart because humour requires wit, creativity, and the ability to connect ideas in a unique way. If I had to choose, I’d lean towards being funny—spreading joy while holding on to a quiet intelligence that doesn’t need to be loudly proclaimed.”

Rachel Zadok - Cape Town (UTC+02:00)
Communications Oversight
User:RZadok

Rachel is one of two team members who came to the Wikimedia Community via Wiki In Africa, rather than the other way around (the other being Nonny). As an editor, writer, and designer, Rachel first joined Wiki In Africa for a short-term project as production manager for Inspiring Open, but she never left. Today, she oversees Communications for Wiki In Africa.
 

Rachel is an award-winning author of two novels and the managing editor of Short Story Day Africa, a project dedicated to promoting and developing African writers through the medium of the short story. Under her guidance, the initiative has published seven anthologies of African short fiction.
 

Despite an early brush with fame after the release of her first novel—and being the team member that likely has the greatest number of magazine, newspaper, and television appearances—Rachel is quite averse to publicity and prefers to be behind the scenes.  Even though she runs the social media platforms for Wiki In Africa and other organisations, she keeps her own presence online to a bare minimum:

If I didn’t need admin sign-in to Wiki In Africa’s social media accounts, I’d probably have no social media presence at all. I’d hire one of those companies that erase you from the internet and become an online ghost. Initially, when I set up my first Facebook account, I had just moved back from Europe and saw social media as a way to connect with friends in distant places. But over the years, I’ve watched these platforms change the way we communicate. I feel like they’ve stripped us of some of our humanity and created a mob mentality. While I see the value of online discourse, I think it’s also amplified our baser instincts—turning us into warring factions determined to own narratives instead of listening to them.
 

What excites Rachel most about her role at Wiki in Africa? She hopes her work in comms for Wiki In Africa pushes back against these toxic online trends and helps us value each other’s stories and perspectives rather than screaming into the void to silence one another.
 

Rachel’s Icebreaker: What was your dream job when you were a child?

“I’ve always thought I’d make a rather good spy. Even now, I wonder if I missed my calling.  People have a strange tendency to open up to me and share their life story, even when I haven’t asked them anything. I think it's down to a combination of my quizzical face and my lack of small talk skills. It makes people want to confess things. My internal dialogue is being constantly interrupted by the thought “Why are you telling me this?

I have several other talents that lean toward spycraft, but if I told you…”

Wiki In Africa’s Impact

The impact this powerhouse team has made in changing global narratives about Africa and decolonising Africa’s knowledge in Wikimedia projects is clear in the statistics from our 2023 annual report.

• Wiki Loves Africa surpassed 104,000 contributions to Wikimedia Commons since its inception in 2014.
• Wiki Loves Women’s global SheSaid campaign resulted in 5,407 new and improved articles across 18 Wikiquote language projects.
• The Wiki Loves Women Focus Group expanded its gender-focused leadership network, supporting members from 9 African countries and France through office hours and working sessions on key Wikimedia and leadership topics.
• WikiChallenge African Schools completed its 6th year, engaging 190 schools across 10 countries resulting in 110 articles, 630 images and 4 videos being uploaded.  
• Wiki In Africa projects were proudly represented at 7 Wikimedia events and the Open Education Global 2023 conference in Edmonton, Canada.
• In 2023, Wiki Loves Africa, themed Climate & Weather, introduced additional prizes aligned with the Africa Environment WikiFocus and pioneered the first-ever video jury process for a Wiki Loves X contest.

As we look ahead to the fresh opportunities of the coming year, we want to thank you for being part of our journey. Wikimedia is the sum of its parts, a vast, interconnected hub of knowledge powered by millions of individual contributions. To us, the African Wikimedia community feels more like an Open knowledge family—a network of projects, user groups, communities, and individuals who extend helping hands and support each other with the shared aim of amplifying our voices, making our communities more visible, and, in the process, decolonising and democratising Africa’s knowledge.

We look forward to connecting at next year’s conferences, hearing your stories, and learning together. Here’s to you, African Wikimedians!