Ghanaian Wikimedians Contribute to Black Lunch Table Project of Artists with Colour

In an inspiring initiative to amplify the representation of Black artists and artists of color on Wikipedia and other Wikimedia ecosystems, the Black Lunch Table Regional Proxy program successfully organized two dynamic workshops and contests in collaboration with some local language Wikimedia communities. These events showcased the power of collective knowledge-sharing and spearheaded by the Black Lunch Table regional proxies Hamidu Rukaya (User:Ruky Wunpini) and Mohammed Kamal-Deen Fuseini (User:Dnshitobu).

“Artist Wey Get Colour Too Dey” with Ghanaian Pidgin Wikimedians Community

On November 14, 2024, Hamidu Rukaya teamed up with the Ghanaian Pidgin Wikimedians Community to host an online workshop dubbed “Artist Wey Get Colour Too Dey“. This session introduced participants to Wikipedia editing, with a focus on documenting and celebrating Black artists and creatives of color. The workshop attracted a diverse group of contributors eager to make a difference.

Following the workshop, the team launched a month-long contest from November 14 to December 14, 2024. Participants competed to create or improve Wikipedia articles about notable Black artists. The contest concluded with the recognition of exceptional contributors, celebrating their commitment to enhancing representation on the world’s largest online encyclopedia. 

Winners:

• Top Contributor: User: DaSupremo
• Second Top Contributor: User: Tenacious Ntaawa
• Third Top Contributor: User: Yaw tuba
• Top Female Contributor: User: Tenacious Ntaawa

“Baŋsim bɛla Nuchee Ni” with Dagbani Wikimedians User Group

Meanwhile, Mohammed Kamal-Deen Fuseini partnered with the Dagbani Wikimedians User Group to host a parallel online workshop on November 15, 2024, under the title “Baŋsim bɛla Nuchee Ni” curled from the Dagbani language, which translates to “There is absolute knowledge in the wrist of man.” This event emphasized the importance of documenting local artists in indigenous languages, bridging the gap between digital knowledge and cultural heritage.

The workshop paved the way for a contest that ran from November 15 to December 15, 2024. Similar to its counterpart, this contest sought to engage editors in building a richer repository of information about Black and local artists, fostering cultural pride and digital activism.

Winners:

• Top Contributor: User: Tenacious Ntaawa
• Second Top Contributor: User: Kalakpagh
• Third Top Contributor: User: Jahibia
• Top Female Contributor: User: Tenacious Ntaawa 

These events celebrated artists of color and also showcased the power of Wikimedia’s diverse communities in advancing representation and inclusivity. The Ghanaian Pidgin Wikimedians Community and Dagbani Wikimedians User Group worked tirelessly to inspire new contributors through training and mentorship throughout the contests. These efforts ensured that participants felt equipped to contribute meaningful content to Wikipedia.