Nairobi played host to the 20th edition of Wikimania, the annual global conference celebrating Wikipedia, Wikimedia projects, and the volunteers who power them, marking the first time the flagship event has been held in East Africa.
The four-day gathering, held from 6–9 August, brought together over 2,300 participants from more than 135 countries, with 776 attending in person and over 1,600 joining online. Nearly half (48%) of attendees were under the age of 34, highlighting a growing wave of youth engagement in the open knowledge movement.
Organised under the theme “Wikimania@20: Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability”, the event reflected on two decades of building the world’s largest free knowledge resource and explored how to sustain it in a fast-changing digital era. The theme particularly resonated in East Africa, where Wikimedia communities are playing an increasing role in documenting culture, preserving languages, and contributing to global open knowledge projects.
Nearly half of all attendees (48%) were under 34, underscoring growing intergenerational engagement. Participants ranged from seasoned Wikimedia contributors with decades of experience to first-time editors eager to learn.
Wikimedia projects are built by nearly 300,000 monthly volunteers who contribute articles, images, and data — all openly accessible and collaboratively maintained. Wikipedia alone is edited in over 300 languages by about 260,000 volunteers each month, drawing more than 22 billion views. This process, grounded in consensus and transparency, ensures the platform remains neutral, reliable, and fact-based.
Maryana Iskander, CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation, praised the collective achievement saying:
“Wikimania is a celebration of 20 years of collaboration and the incredible contributions that have made our movement strong and successful. As we look ahead to Wikipedia’s 25th birthday, the question for all of us is what the next generation needs, and how we will build on the success of the past quarter century.”
Highlights from Wikimania 2025 Nairobi
The conference featured over 200 sessions and more than 350 speakers, covering topics from generative AI and fact-checking in the age of misinformation, to strategies for preserving linguistic diversity and documenting endangered cultural heritage.
Key highlights included:
- Wikimedian of the Year Awards – Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales honoured eight volunteers from around the world for exceptional contributions to Wikimedia projects.
- AI in Open Knowledge – A keynote panel featuring African AI experts Dr. Joyce Nakatumba-Nabende and Prof. Vukosi Marivate explored how open knowledge communities can navigate technological shifts while staying true to Wikimedia’s principles.
- Language Preservation Efforts – Showcases of initiatives translating Wikipedia content into indigenous African languages, helping safeguard cultural heritage and broaden access.
- Global Partnerships – Updates on collaborations with the United Nations and libraries worldwide to make knowledge more accessible in underrepresented regions.
Hosting Wikimania 2025 placed East Africa firmly on the map of the global open knowledge movement. Local Wikimedia chapters from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda worked together with the Wikimedia Foundation to deliver the event. Sessions spotlighted projects from across the region, from digitising historical archives to training youth in Wikipedia editing skills.
Looking Ahead – Wikimania
As the Nairobi edition concluded, focus shifted to Wikimania 2026 in Paris, France. The event will coincide with Wikipedia’s 25th anniversary, marking another milestone for the free knowledge movement.
For the thousands of Wikimedians who attended, Wikimania 2025 was both a celebration of the past and a call to action for the future — ensuring that Wikipedia and its sister projects remain accessible, inclusive, and impactful for generations to come.
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