#SheSaid 5th Edition Interviews: [#6 Abigail Agbenomba]

As part of our ongoing series highlighting pivotal figures of the #SheSaid campaign 2024 , we are pleased to welcome Abigail Agbenomba from Benin. A dedicated member of various Francophone women’s initiatives, Abigail has been instrumental in advocating for women’s rights and empowerment in her community. Join us as we delve into her experiences and the vital work she is doing to uplift women’s voices!

Could you tell us about yourself?

Abigail AGBENOMBA, I am cartographer. I am also the  treasurer of the association Les sans pagEs and member of Wikimedia Benin. As an eclectic contributor, I actively engage in the animation of the Wikimedia community, both locally and internationally. My contributions primarily focus on the theme of gender on Wikimedia, where I strive to promote a more equitable and diverse representation.

What drew you to participate in the #SheSaid campaign?

I was drawn to the #SheSaid campaign because it aims to give a voice to women and promote gender equality in digital spaces. As a contributor on Wikimedia, I am passionate about creating inclusive and diverse content. Participating in this campaign allows me to contribute to a movement that values women’s experiences and perspectives while raising public awareness about gender issues. I firmly believe that every voice matters and that collective engagement can lead to meaningful change.

How do you feel about the current representation of women in your local community or region? What can be done to improve it?

In my region, I notice that I am one of the few actively involved women in Wikimedia projects. However, this year, we have trained several women on these initiatives, which has sparked growing interest among them. To maintain this momentum, I believe it is essential to regularly organize activities and encourage them to get more involved. By creating a supportive environment and valuing their contributions, we can strengthen the representation of women and foster a more inclusive community.

If there were one change you could make to existing platforms like Wikiquote to better support women’s voices, what would it be?

Wikiquote should be improved so that it also appears in the top search engine queries. Follow up to maintain the continuity of contributors on wikiquote, so that we don’t just wait for annual campaigns. Systematically integrate wikiquotes into Wikipedia workshops.

Can you share a story or example of how the #SheSaid campaign has positively impacted individuals or your community?

The #SheSaid 2023 campaign in Benin organized four training workshops focused on raising awareness of gender biases and active involvement in Wikimedia projects, particularly Wikiquote. The first session introduced Wikimedia projects and editing techniques for Wikiquote. The second session allowed participants to enhance their editing skills by creating articles. The third session reinforced those skills and demonstrated how to upload images to Wikimedia Commons. The fourth session was a collaborative workshop between the organizing team and the trainers.

Positive impacts include active participation from all registered participants, the inclusion of 13 new participants, 5 former contributors from Benin, and 1 from Togo, as well as a significant improvement in participants’ editing skills. In summary, the campaign successfully achieved its objectives while strengthening participants’ capabilities and fostering a collaborative environment.

Have you collaborated with any other organizations or groups as part of the #SheSaid campaign? If so, what was the impact of these collaborations?

Yes, I collaborated with Noircir Wikipédia as part of the #SheSaid campaign by facilitating an online training workshop. This event brought together participants from various countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Cameroon, and Switzerland. The collaboration had a significant impact, fostering cross-border engagement and knowledge sharing, and helping expand the reach of the campaign across multiple regions. It also encouraged a more diverse participation, furthering the goal of increasing the visibility of African women on Wikiquote.

How do you think the #SheSaid campaign can evolve to be more inclusive of diverse voices and perspectives? 

Think about identifying specific themes for women’s involvement in each campaign, then involve women’s rights associations in awareness and information campaigns during #SheSaid activities. Create international awards to recognize and reward the best international contributors. This would encourage participation and value the efforts of those committed to making women’s voices heard, and at the same time encourage new contributors to join the movement.

If you could invite any woman, past or present, to speak at a #SheSaid event, who would it be and why?

If I could invite a woman to speak at a #SheSaid event, I would choose Zeynab Habib. As a committed Beninese artist and singer, Zeynab uses her music to address social issues such as gender equality, women’s empowerment, and peace. Her journey as an African woman who has made her mark on the international music scene would make her a powerful and inspiring voice for the participants. She embodies the strength, resilience, and creativity of African women, qualities that align with #SheSaid goals of increasing visibility and recognition for women around the world

What are your hopes for the future of the #SheSaid campaign?

The future of the #SheSaid campaign looks bright, with many opportunities for expansion and increased potential to raise the profile of women in quotes and ideas. I hope that the #SheSaid project will continue to evolve positively. To achieve this, it is crucial to extend the initiative to local languages and improve access to sources. Indeed, until now, the most used references have been found on the Internet, whereas there is a wealth of quotations and references in still unexplored physical books.

What is your favorite women-empowering quote?

Comment justifier son être d’homme si la femme n’en est pas le centre? Qui vous a amené dans cette vie ?
Angélique Kidjo

Read more about the campaign and the fifth edition in our #SheSaid 2024 Launch diff and don’t forget to follow us on social media:

• Website: www.wikiloveswomen.org
• Twitter: @Wikiloveswomen
• Instagram: @WikiLovesWomen
• Facebook Page: @WikiLovesWomen
• Facebook Group: Mind The Gender Gap
• Telegram Group: WikiGenderGap