Dagaare Wikimedia Community End-of-Year Annual Report 2023

January 17, 2024

As we approach the end of the year, it is with immense pride and gratitude that we reflect upon the remarkable journey of the Dagaare Wikimedia Community. The inception of our language incubator in January 2023 marked the beginning of a transformative period, and the collective efforts of our community have yielded exceptional outcomes. Our journey began by translating the most common phrases and words on the Translate Wiki, laying the groundwork for the broader translation efforts that followed. One of our major achievements was the launch of the live Wikipedia website in the Dagaare language, accessible at [dga.Wikimedia.org] (https://dga.Wikimedia.org). This milestone was possible through the dedication and collaboration of our community members. The Dagaare language went live on Wikipedia within 11 months.

From April to June, our community dedicated efforts to recording biographies for the 275 parliamentarians of the 8th Parliament of Ghana. Simultaneously, we worked on refining the Wikidata items associated with these parliamentarians. Transitioning from October to November, our focus remained on documenting the biographies of 275 parliamentarians, this time from the 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana.

Additionally, organising the unique community contest dubbed "Ghana's Constituency Profile" demonstrated our dedication to capturing and sharing local narratives about 100 constituencies in Ghana. Our co-lead, Mohammed Awal, played a crucial role in organising online meetings, focusing on imparting basic translation skills to community members. The collaborative efforts of Joachim and Linus at the Ajumako campus and Zakaria's online meeting coordination contributed to a vibrant and inclusive community spirit. Our community was honoured to be represented by Paula Daara at the Dagaare Language Autography Committee's Annual Conference in Wa. This not only showcased the diversity of Dagaare but also strengthened our relationships with the committee in the spirit of wider linguistic collaboration. As the year neared its end in December, our community enthusiastically engaged in the Wiki World Heritage Intangible Contest. This initiative focused on the documentation and promotion of intangible heritage through Wikimedia platforms.

Recognition was bestowed upon User Linus Konkor for exceptional contributions and unwavering dedication, earning him the title of Best Male Wikimedian. Message from him: “I'm impressed to be part of the 2023 award winners. It is to inform me that I should keep working hard, be a motivation for others to emulate, and encourage them to join the community as well, because I believe that with more hands, we shall conquer.”

User Umar Asiya received acknowledgement as the Best Female Wikimedian, underscoring her significant contributions to the community. Her message was, “It is with great pride that I share the news of being recognised as the Female Wikimedian of the Year for the Dagaare Wikimedia Community. This honour serves as both a validation of the efforts invested and a motivation to continue contributing passionately to our shared objectives. It is a testament to the collective dedication and collaborative spirit within the Dagaare Wikimedia Community. As a recipient of this award, I perceive it as a responsibility to elevate my contributions. I aim to be a source of inspiration for others, encouraging them to join our vibrant community. Together, with more hands and diverse perspectives, we can overcome challenges and achieve even greater milestones.”