The Access to African Knowledge Hub (AAKH). A membership and collaboration network by Free Knowledge Africa
The Problem We’re Solving
African knowledge is disappearing from the global record, not because it doesn’t exist, but because it isn’t accessible. Across the continent and diaspora, vast collections held by galleries, libraries, archives, museums, and universities remain undigitised, poorly catalogued, or locked behind unclear copyright. This results in African heritage being systematically underrepresented on the platforms where the world now learns, researches, and remembers. AAKH exists to change that.
What Is AAKH?
The Access to African Knowledge Hub is a structured institutional network that connects African knowledge institutions with the tools, training, and partnerships they need to digitise, open, and share their collections responsibly. We provide a coordinated pathway into global open knowledge ecosystems, including Wikimedia Foundation platforms and Creative Commons licensing frameworks, so that African heritage becomes visible, valued, and accessible to the world.
Vision
An equitable global knowledge ecosystem where African heritage, scholarship, and culture are fully represented.
Mission
To build a sustainable, continent-wide institutional network enabling African knowledge institutions to digitise, open, and responsibly share their collections with the world.
How We Work
Digitisation & Access: We help institutions identify public domain materials, structure metadata, and upload collections to Wikimedia platforms with proper licensing and attribution.
Capacity Building: We provide copyright and public domain training, open licensing workshops, Wikimedia editing programmes, and digital strategy guidance tailored to African institutions.
Visibility & Representation: Through coordinated campaigns and structured integration into Wikipedia and Wikidata, we ensure African collections reach global audiences.
Collaboration & Funding: We support consortium grant applications, cross-institutional programming, and shared research initiatives so institutions can achieve more together than alone.
Policy & Advocacy: We advise institutions on open knowledge policy and help align their practices with cultural and heritage policy frameworks at the national and regional level.
Who Can Join
AAKH welcomes institutions and individuals committed to expanding equitable access to African knowledge:
- Galleries
- Libraries
- Archives
- Museums
- Universities
- Cultural Centres
- Research Institutes
- Heritage Organisations
- Independent Knowledge Professionals
Membership Categories
Institutional Member
For established organisations and GLAM institutions
Full access to strategic consultation, training, project participation, collaborative funding opportunities, and an institutional profile within the AAKH network.
Affiliate Member
For smaller organisations and grassroots groups
Access to workshops, network participation, and collaboration opportunities, providing a meaningful entry point for organisations building their capacity.
Individual Member
For researchers, archivists, librarians, academics, and digital practitioners
Training access, participation in thematic initiatives, and connection with a continental network of open knowledge professionals.
What Members Gain
- Increased visibility on global knowledge platforms
- A structured, supported pathway into open knowledge participation
- Expert guidance on digitisation, copyright, and open licensing
- Access to collaborative grant and funding opportunities
- Inclusion in coordinated continental campaigns
- Membership in a growing network of African knowledge institutions
Member Commitments
Membership is built on shared values. Members agree to:
- Respect copyright and intellectual property law
- Uphold responsible digitisation practices
- Promote ethical, accurate, and equitable representation of African knowledge
- Apply open licensing standards where applicable
- Engage professionally and constructively within the network
Governance
AAKH operates under Free Knowledge Africa with transparent institutional governance:
- Hub Director — operational leadership
- Advisory Council — GLAM and digital expertise
- Member Steering Committee — institutional voice and oversight
- Thematic Working Groups — focused programme delivery
Major initiatives are shaped through institutional consultation at every stage.
Terms & Conditions
Eligibility — Membership is open to organisations and individuals aligned with AAKH’s mission.
Intellectual Property — Members retain ownership of their materials. Materials shared under open licences must comply with applicable law and licensing requirements.
Compliance — Legal compliance remains the responsibility of each member institution.
Code of Conduct — Members must engage respectfully and uphold professional standards across all network activities.
Termination — Membership may be suspended or terminated where actions undermine the Hub’s mission, violate copyright, or compromise network integrity.
Fees — Any membership fees will be published transparently and in advance.
Our Long-Term Goal
AAKH aims to become the leading institutional gateway enabling African knowledge institutions to participate fully and responsibly in global open knowledge infrastructure, ensuring the African record is never again absent from the platforms where the world learns.
Ready to join? Become a member or contact us to learn more.
