Access to Knowledge Without Barriers
Lessons from Free Knowledge Africa’s Digitisation Projects The dream of universal open access is a dream worth holding onto. But in the day-to-day work of making knowledge free and accessible, perfectionism can become an obstacle of its own. Not every Institution is ready to throw open every door at once, and that’s okay. Start where …
In 2011, Nigeria passed into law the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. The law gave every Nigerian citizen regardless of education, status, or connection the legal right to demand information from any public institution. This includes government contracts, spending records, policy documents, meeting minutes. All of it, in principle, is accessible to anyone who asked. …
If you’ve ever searched for Nigerian history online, tried to find photographs of 1900s Lagos, or looked for primary sources about African independence movements, you’ve probably noticed something. There’s just not much knowledge there. It’s not that African knowledge doesn’t exist. Our libraries hold centuries of newspapers and archival materials. We have archives that preserve …
In cities like Helsinki, residents can access dozens of well-funded public libraries within a short commute. In contrast, Lagos, a city of over 15 million people, has only a handful of functioning public libraries. The disparity is sharper in rural Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa, where entire local government areas may have no library at …
Public Domain Day, celebrated on January 1st of every calendar year, marks the moment when works that were once copyrighted become free to be used and reused by all. In celebration of this year’s Public Domain Day, we published this blog post highlighting films, albums, and movies released in 1976 that will enter the public …
FKA 2025 Impact Every year begins quietly. But for Free Knowledge Africa, January 1st is never just another day. It is Public Domain Day, a reminder that knowledge, once protected by time, returns to the people it belongs to. And so, we began 2025 exactly where our work is rooted: the Public Domain. Where the …
Free Knowledge Africa is proud to announce that we have signed the Open Heritage Statement, a global call to action launched by Creative Commons and the TAROCH Coalition (Towards a Recommendation on Open Cultural Heritage). This statement is now open for signature by governments, organizations, and institutions worldwide. This statement, developed by more than 60 …
We are thrilled to announce the newly appointed Board of Trustees at Free Knowledge Africa, marking an exciting new chapter in our journey to advancing open knowledge, digital literacy, and equitable access to information across the African continent. Meet the New Board Members After a careful selection process, we are proud to introduce the distinguished …
As the year draws to a close, we take a moment to reflect on an extraordinary journey of collaboration, growth, and impact. At Free Knowledge Africa, we believe that open access to knowledge is not just a principle—it’s a catalyst for transformation. Together, we’ve made significant steps in bridging information gaps, preserving cultural heritage, and …
Free Knowledge Africa joins the Open community in celebrating International Open Access Week, 2024. “Open source is about collaborating; not competing.” – Kelsey Hightower This week is a priceless opportunity to link the worldwide movement for open information sharing. This can be achieved with the development of legislative changes and the significance of social concerns …
