Digital Activism and the Igbo Language with Lucy Chinyeaka Iwuala of the Igbo Wikimedians User Group (Nigeria)

Send us Fan MailRising Voices is a Global Voices outreach project that supports underrepresented communities who want to tell their own stories using digital media. By offering training, resources, microgrants, and mentoring, the initiative helps these communities, especially those speaking endangered or indigenous languages, join the global conversation and share their perspectives online. Wikimedia Community Ireland recently joined their campaign that brings together a diverse group of Wikimedia Affiliate Groups to co-organize local workshops focused on digital activism for Indigenous, minoritized, or low-resource languages. These workshops will incorporate elements of the Rising Voices – UNESCO toolkit project “Digital Initiatives for Indigenous Languages,” which has been adapted to a number of virtual and in-person workshops over the past several years.In this episode, we talk to Lucy, a member of the IgboWikimedian Group who are taking part in the initiative. We learn more about her unique and diverse language community, the challenges they face and the importance of initiatives like Rising Voices in strengthening their language in the digital space.About Our Guest Lucy Chinyeaka Iwuala is a Wikimedian, language professional, and cultural heritage advocate dedicated to bridging digital gaps for African languages. With a focus on Igbo and other indigenous African languages, she works to expand online content, empower women contributors, and leverage technology for linguistic preservation. Her initiatives combine digital literacy training with community-driven projects to ensure underrepresented voices take part in shaping the digital narrative of Africa’s cultural heritage. Igbo Wikimedians User Group (Nigeria) represented here by Lucy IwualaIgbo language is one of the most spoken ethnic languages in Nigeria and is spoken by the Igbo people who are native to the present-day South Eastern Nigeria with an estimated population of 34 million (2016 est.), excluding Igbo people in the diaspora. Small ethnic Igbo populations are also found in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.The aim of the Igbo Wikimedians User Group is to leverage on this huge number of people who speak the Igbo language to ensure that content production and consumption in the various Igbo Language platforms of Wikimedia is given front row focus.Resources and Books mentioned:ÌGBÒ: A beginner's guide to learn how to read, understand, speak and write the Ìgbò language by Amarachi Attamah-UgwuOmenka App 'Things Fall Apart', a novel by Chinua AchebeGlobal Voices Website: https://rising.globalvoices.org/UNESCO toolkit “Digital Initiatives for Indigenous Languages”: https://rising.globalvoices.org/digital-initiatives-for-indigenous-languages/Welcome to the Wikimedia community Ireland podcast, your portal to free knowledge and Irish culture.Intro contains Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/kevin-macleod/achaidh-cheideLicense code: JBQCMVAHZIMU692DSign up to our newsletter at wikimedia.ie or follow us on social media @wikimediaie to keep up to date with upcoming events all over Ireland in 2025!If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share it with your friends or on social media. Together, we can make Ireland’s heritage accessible to all. Until next time, keep exploring and celebrating our shared history. Go raibh míle maith agaibh as éisteacht linn, thank you very much for listening!