From Challenges to Change-Making: Celebrating Chabota

We often celebrate Wikipedia, and how it deepens our understanding of the world through sharing facts, lists (and lists of lists of lists!), articles and information about cultures, people, inventions and events from all over the world. But behind every article lies the dedication of individuals who shape and share the stories of their communities. One such individual is Chabota Isaac Kanguya (User:Icem4k), a passionate contributor from Zambia, whose journey through the Wikimedia movement embodies resilience, collaboration, and a commitment to representing underrepresented voices. Today, together with Africa Baraza, we Wikicelebrate Chabota and his contributions to the movement. 

The rocky beginnings of a resilient Wikimedian

While some users integrate into the Wikimedia community seamlessly, and grasp the project’s policies and goal from their very first edits, Chabota’s first steps were somewhat challenging. “My journey as a Wikimedian began on November 7, 2011, while I was a high school student at Linda High School in Livingstone, Zambia. I started contributing to Wikimedia out of necessity for a research assignment that required information from Wikipedia. Fascinated by the platform’s collaborative nature and extensive knowledge base, I created my account and joined the global community” Chabota recalls. But enthusiasm alone wasn’t enough. Early attempts to upload content, including personal photos and an autobiographical article, were quickly deleted due to a lack of what Wikipedians value deeply – verified sources. Worse still, a copyright misunderstanding led to a long ban on Wikimedia Commons. “I treated Wikipedia like any other website,” Chabota admits. 

This could be an end to his Wikimedia journey, but Chabota was so fascinated by Wikimedia, and the possibilities it gave to share knowledge and awareness about Zambian culture, that he was determined not to give up. He spent four years immersing himself in learning the dynamics of Wikimedia projects, carefully studying the guidelines, policies, and best practices that govern Wikipedia and its sister projects. This deliberate pause allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of the “dos and don’ts,” equipping him to navigate the platform more effectively. Once confident in his knowledge, Chabota decided to focus on writing articles about places in Zambia, ensuring they were well-sourced and aligned with Wikipedia’s standards. His first official contribution after the ban was an article about David Kaunda Technical High School. Seeing this article successfully published boosted his confidence and inspired him to revisit biographies—an area that had challenged him before. 

Now he is a contributor with more than 27 000 edits in Wikimedia projects, including 11 000 edits in English language Wikipedia, and over 2400 edits in Wikipedia in Chewa language. 

When reflecting on his initial challenges Chabota adds one, very practical one – access to equipment in times where mobile editing was more challenging than it is now. “The funny thing about this whole journey is that I was using a very small, pocket smartphone for the first three articles. I know it sounds impossible, but I managed to get the most out of it,” he says. “My father even had to get me a bigger phone when he saw my efforts and that pushed me all the way to completing seven articles until I finally got my first laptop in 2018 through the Wikimedia  hardware program.”

Elevating African narratives

From the start Chabota was strongly motivated by the Wikimedia mission of sharing free knowledge with the world. Especially when it comes to sharing knowledge about his local community and culture. “Knowing that my efforts help bridge information gaps and ensure that Zambian voices are represented globally fuels my passion. I am also inspired by the reminder someone once shared with me: No one will write your story better unless you do it yourself. This drives me to take ownership of our narratives and represent them authentically”, he says. 

Chabota knows that while the Wikipedia knowledge repository is huge, there is still so much more to do. “Despite Wikimedia’s global reach, many regions, particularly in the Global South, remain underrepresented in terms of both content and contributors. This means that the knowledge shared on platforms like Wikipedia often lacks the perspectives, histories, and cultures of these regions. For example, in Zambia and other African countries, there is still a need to increase local participation and create content that accurately reflects our diverse cultures, languages, and histories” – he reflects. 

He takes this mission to action. He himself creates content about Zambia, among his many articles, he is especially proud of his contributions to the article about B’Flow – a Zambian singer and songwriter known for his impactful music and activism. 

Addressing challenges through collaboration

When asked about the challenges that Wikimedia projects face, he says that addressing them “requires ongoing efforts to recruit and train new contributors, improve access to technology, and ensure that our platforms are more inclusive and reflective of global knowledge”. He founded Wikimedia Community User Group Zambia, and participates in initiatives such as training new editors, organizing events, and supporting content creation that highlights Zambian and African narratives. 

He is also looking forward to the Wikimedia Zambia Fan Clubs, a pilot project in schools to engage students and promote participation in Wikimedia initiatives which is set to start in 2025.

Belonging and connection 

In 2018 Chabota participated in his first Wikimania. This beloved global event, connecting Wikimedians from around the world in a joint celebration of a shared mission, did its usual magic: it showed Chabota that he is part of a huge community, it brought new friendships, connections, and most of all: fueled his sense of belonging. In his own words: this changed everything and fueled his motivation to do more. 

The connection to a collaborative movement is what keeps Chabota going: “The support and collaboration within the Wikimedia community further inspire me—it’s motivating to be part of a collective mission where each contribution plays a role in empowering people with accessible, free knowledge”, he says. 

Thank you Chabota for all that you are doing, we are celebrating you and your dedication to the movement!