Wikipedia is one of the most visited websites in the world, but have you ever stopped to think about who writes the stories we read there? For too long, African women’s voices have been missing from this global platform. That’s why the Africa Wiki Women (AWW) Skill Up Workshop was so important—it was all about learning how to take charge of our own narratives.
The training was by Abdul-Rahim Ziblim, an experienced Wikipedian from Ghana and the lead of the Tamale Wiki Hub. He shared his journey in Wikipedia editing, breaking down the basics of how Wikipedia works and why it matters. With his guidance, we explored Wikipedia’s Five Pillars—the fundamental principles that keep the platform neutral, reliable, and collaborative.
But this wasn’t just about theory. We got hands-on experience with editing, learning how to add citations, improve articles, and ensure that reliable information about African women and our communities is well-represented. We quickly realized that editing Wikipedia isn’t just about typing words on a page—it’s about correcting gaps, challenging biases, and making sure the knowledge on the internet reflects all of us, not just a select few.
One key takeaway? If we don’t write our stories, someone else will—and they might not get it right. African women have a wealth of knowledge, yet too often, we are left out of the narrative. This workshop gave us the skills.
By the end of the session, we weren’t just new editors—we were knowledge activists, ready to make sure that when the world searches for information about Africa, they find stories that truly reflect our realities.
This is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to see how many more African women join us in this journey of shaping knowledge, one edit at a time!
Next Steps
We encourage everyone to join our next training program coming up on Saturday March 15th, 2025 by signing up here.
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