Wiki Loves Women

Wiki Loves Women encourages the contribution of quality information on, about, and of interest to Africa’s women to be published on and made widely available via Wikipedia. The project bridges two significant gaps on Wikimedia projects – women and Africa – in terms of supporting the creation of content about these subjects and empowering participation by people from these groups.

When our stories are sidelined, then our lives are sidelined. So it is important that we always find spaces for our stories, our voices.”

— Hilda Twongyeirewe speaks about writing as activism on Wiki Loves Women’s Inspiring Open podcast

Status: Active

Why Wiki Loves Women

Gender inequality is rife across Africa. The Wiki Loves Women project focuses on tackling this issue by bridging two significant gaps on Wikimedia projects – women and Africa – both in terms of content about these subjects and participation by people from these groups.

Using the GLAM model that works with civil society, media, and education organisations, Wiki Loves Women encourages the contribution of quality information on African women to be published on and made widely available via Wikipedia.

Wiki Loves Women’s Proof of Concept took place during 2016-7 in Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Ghana. The donated content specifically focuses on women’s contribution to the political, economic, scientific, cultural, and heritage landscape, as well as the current socio-political status of women, in each of these nations.

Furthermore, the project will encourage the activation and support of new and existing editors (both female and gender-sensitized male Wikipedians) in the focus countries.

The project documentation and its outcome are published under CC BY SA 4.0.

What made it remarkable was because it united a wide range of individuals who were enthusiastic about African identity, culture, and visibility. Edit-a -thons and Wiki quotes on African women and uploading my first photo on Commons.”

— About Wiki Loves Women’s SheSaid, Community Survey 2026 Respondent

Impact since 2017

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WikiQuote articles new and improved via #SheSaid
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#SheSaid Language Communities
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Tell Us About Her contributions through ISA
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Episodes of Inspiring Open

Explore these Wiki Loves Women Initiatives

SheSaid

Women’s voices are too often overlooked or forgotten. Since 2020, the #SheSaid campaign has worked to change that by amplifying women’s words and achievements on Wikiquote. Run by Wiki In Africa as part of the Wiki Loves Women initiative, it addresses gender gaps by creating and improving entries about influential women. To date, #SheSaid has led to over 27,000 articles on Wikiquote across 22 language versions — a collective effort that celebrates women’s leadership and promotes equity.
More info on Meta: Wiki Loves Women/SheSaid

Focus Group

Since 2016, Wiki Loves Women has trained Wikimedia leaders across Africa to grow communities focused on gender equity and women’s knowledge. Through regular trainings and running Wiki projects, the capacity-building initiative fosters leadership and amplifies women’s voices. The 2025 cohort includes 34 members from 13 African countries and France.
More info on Meta: Wiki Loves Women/Focus Group

The purple puzzle icon for Wiki Loves Women's Inspiring Open podcast project. Above the project title is a graphic white heart-shaped microphone with the continent of Africa in green.

Inspiring Open

Inspiring Open is a podcast launched in 2022 to celebrate Africa’s influential women whose work and values intersect with the Open movement. The first season featured 16 guests sharing stories of leadership, innovation, and impact. Since then, it has focused on amplifying inspiring women within the Wikimedia movement, making their achievements more visible. Available anytime, Inspiring Open offers motivational stories told in the guests’ own voices. The podcast was made possible with support from the Goethe-Institut’s 2021 International Relief Fund.
Listen: podcast.wikiloveswomen.org

The orange puzzle icon of the Wiki Loves Women project Tell Us About Her. The orange puzzle piece has a purple female sign. Inside the circle is a blue camera shutter motif with a cdentered yellow heart containing the letters ISA.

Tell Us About Her​​

Tell Us About Her is an annual campaign on Wiki In Africa’s ISA Tool that improves the visibility of women on Wikimedia Commons by adding captions and descriptions to photos. For six years during International Women’s Month, the campaign has celebrated women across diverse fields, with past themes including African Women Politicians and Activists (2020), Women at Work (2021), Women in Architecture (2022), Women on the Climate Frontline (2023), Art (2024), and Literature (2025).
Learn more on Commons: Commons:ISA Tool/Challenges

Wiki OTO

Wiki Àrà-Ọtọ (meaning unique in Yoruba) is a campaign launched in 2025 by the Wiki Loves Women Focus Group to enrich Wikidata with the achievements of African women. Built on a “learning-by-practicing” approach developed after three years of leadership training, it addresses the lack of information about African women on Wikimedia. Every two months, a new theme highlights their stories and the global community is invited to create, expand, and enrich content to make their voices visible.
More info on Meta: Wiki Loves Women/Focus Group/Wiki OTO

There are many wonderful experiences, but the Wiki Loves Women #SheSaid was our most memorable program. It was always a great experience. We have organized it twice, and it’s a lifetime experience. We hope to see more SheSaid Hausa with new ideas, bigger collaborations and impactful goals.
— Wiki In Africa Community Survey 2026 Respondent

Explore this project in more detail and join the conversations at: