WikiForMotherTongue was an exciting and impactful campaign in the Democratic Republic of Congo, attracting the attention of many linguistic communities, language enthusiasts, as well as media and press personalities. Launched online on February 1st at midnight, its official in-person launch took place on February 22nd, marking the beginning of physical activities. The campaign concluded in style on February 28, 2025.
The event brought together journalists, university professors, students, linguists, and cultural operators in an interactive and enriching atmosphere. Discussions focused on the importance of contributing to open and multilingual projects to actively participate in the universal diversity of knowledge. The closing took place at the legendary Studio Léo of the Boboto Cultural Center, the oldest cultural center in the DRC, inaugurated in 1942.
Immersive Workshops Serving Local Languages
Before the closing ceremony, two contributory workshops were organized at Silikin Village in Kinshasa to celebrate mother languages. Participants learned how to enrich Wikipedia in their local languages, with a particular emphasis on articles related to Congolese culture. The event was especially well received when its original name, Wiki na monɔkɔ mua bísó (Wiki in our language), was mentioned. This reference reinforced the sense of belonging among community members and highlighted the importance of local languages in the promotion of knowledge.
Impressive Results for Congolese Language Wikipedias
This edition marks a turning point as it is the first time the campaign has taken place in person, following a pilot phase that was entirely online the previous year. The results of this editing contest were particularly impressive, showcasing the significant progress of Congolese language Wikipedias in just one year since the launch of the Mother-Tongue Contribution Month:
- Lnwiki (Lingála Wikipedia): from 3,000 to 4,728 articles (+1,728 articles)
- Kgwiki (Kikɔ̂ngo Wikipedia): from 1,100 to 1,524 articles (+424 articles)
- Luawiki (Tshiluba Wikipedia) (still in the Wikimedia Incubator): from 1 to 1,566 articles (+1,565 articles)
These figures illustrate the vast untapped potential of local languages on Wikimedia projects and the need to bridge the gap with English Wikipedia (Enwiki). As of February 28, English Wikipedia had:
- 124,599 active contributors and 1,407 administrators with 6,960,641 articles
Comparatively, Congolese national language Wikipedias that already have their official Wikipedia versions with a primary domain online had:
- Swwiki (Swahili Wikipedia): 97,307 articles (2.1% of English volume, 98.6% gap)
- Lnwiki : 4,728 articles (0.10%, 99.93% gap)
- Kgwiki: 1,524 articles (0.03%, 99.97% gap)
In terms of active contributors and administrators:
- Swwiki: 747 active contributors and 15 administrators (0.6% and 1.1%, 98% difference from Enwiki)
- Lnwiki: 18 active contributors and 3 administrators (0.014% and 0.21%, 99% gap)
- Kgwiki: 19 active contributors and 0 administrators (0.015% and 0%, 100% gap)
A Legacy Immortalized in Images
The campaign was marked by memorable moments, punctuated by traditional songs and dances, with a special WikiTraditional touch. Numerous photos were taken to immortalize these unique moments, showcasing the country’s cultural and linguistic richness.
See You in 2026 at Wallonie-Bruxelles!
For the next edition, the Wallonie-Bruxelles Cultural Center in Kinshasa will host the event, including workshops and the conference segment. This new venue promises an even more ambitious edition with panels in local languages, marking a new milestone in promoting Congolese languages on Wikimedia projects.
📅 See you next year for another celebration of linguistic diversity!
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