The Celtic Knot Lagos Satellite Event held on Saturday, 12th February, was a resounding success, with many indigenous language enthusiasts in attendance. The event, which was held at Cr8tive Workspaces in Surulere, Lagos, brought together a community of like-minded individuals who are dedicated to making knowledge accessible to all.
There were five speakers at the event, each sharing their experiences and insights on the importance of documenting local languages and the role that Wikimedia projects can play in the process.
The event host, Isaac Oloruntimilehin, co-founder of Free Knowledge Africa and the director of growth and strategy for the organization, spoke extensively on the benefits of documenting local languages and highlighted the important role that Wikipedia can play in the process.
Precious Obiorah, a professional linguist, Wikipedian, and project lead for She Said Nigeria, delved into the power of languages and how Wikimedia projects can help to promote linguistic diversity and inclusivity.
Oreoluwa Ajayi, the project lead of Afro sounds and an experienced Wikipedian, explored the nexus of sounds and languages, highlighting some of the barriers to contributing to small-language Wikipedia articles.
Jovita Chineye, a Wikipedian and member of the Igbo Wikimedians User Group, shared with the audience some language documentation projects the user group had previously worked on, showcasing the impact of collaborative efforts in preserving and promoting indigenous languages.
Alaafiabami Oladipupo, co-founder of Free Knowledge Africa and the director of education and research for the organization, spoke on what oral history documentation is and emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage through recorded interviews with people who have personal knowledge of past events and experiences.
The event was a great opportunity for participants to connect, network, and share their experiences and insights on promoting linguistic diversity and inclusivity on Wikimedia projects. Participants were able to interact with the speakers and share their views and ideas, creating a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere.
In conclusion, the Celtic Knot Lagos Satellite Event was a celebration of linguistic diversity and inclusivity, and it was a great opportunity for participants to learn, connect and share their experiences and insights. The event highlighted the important role that Wikimedia projects can play in promoting linguistic diversity and inclusivity, and it emphasized the need for collaborative efforts in preserving and promoting indigenous languages. We are grateful to all the speakers and participants who made the event a success, and we look forward to more exciting and impactful events in the future.