Our Programs & Initiatives
Driving knowledge creation, cultural preservation, and community engagement
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Yoruba Language Orthography
Standardization
Preserving Yoruba in the Digital Age
The biggest threat to indigenous languages in the digital age is fragmentation rather than decline. For Yoruba, inconsistent spelling, missing diacritics, and varied writing styles have created barriers that affect communication, searchability, and how digital systems like AI understand the language.
This lack of standardization makes Yoruba less visible in global digital spaces and weakens the quality of language data used in technology. As a result, the language risks being misrepresented or underrepresented in modern systems.
To address this, Wikimedia Yoruba, in partnership with the Yoruba World Centre and the DAWN Commission, launched an initiative to harmonize Yoruba orthography. This effort supports the New National Language Policy, which promotes indigenous languages in education and development.
A 35-member expert committee of linguists and scholars, including Prof. Ayo Bamgbose, is developing a unified “Gold Standard” for Yoruba writing. This standard will ensure consistency in spelling, diacritics, and usage across platforms.
The goal is simple: whether in classrooms, research, or AI systems, Yoruba should be represented accurately and consistently worldwide.
Beyond technology, this is also about cultural preservation—protecting meaning, identity, and heritage while ensuring Yoruba remains fully relevant in the digital future.
Yoruba Oral Tradition Project (YOTP)
Digitizing the Ancestral Voice: From Orature to Open Access
Yoruba culture is fundamentally rooted in orature—knowledge preserved, transmitted, and enriched through spoken tradition. Yet as elders pass, irreplaceable histories risk fading into silence, raising the urgent possibility of a “digital dark age” for indigenous memory.
To confront this, the Yoruba Oral Traditions Project (YOTP) serves as a flagship initiative dedicated to safeguarding ancestral knowledge. Through high-fidelity documentation, we preserve oral histories of legendary figures, the intricate cosmology of the Òrìṣà, and the deeply layered “Itan” that trace lineage, identity, and civilization across generations.
In 2024, this work reached a critical milestone with the formal donation of curated research archives to Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA). This act bridges field-based ethnographic preservation with institutional scholarship, ensuring that Yoruba oral heritage is not only protected but also integrated into academic research and accessible knowledge systems.
Ultimately, this initiative transforms memory into enduring digital heritage—moving Yoruba knowledge from fragile oral transmission to a structured, open-access future.
Yoruba Indigenous Cuisine
The Digital Gastronomy Project: Documenting Identity Through Food
Yoruba food is more than nourishment—it is a living expression of culture, language, and identity. Through immersive culinary experiences, the Yoruba Indigenous Cuisine Project brings this heritage to life by engaging participants in the preparation and exploration of traditional dishes.
At its core, the initiative provides hands-on exposure to indigenous Yoruba foods, allowing participants to research, prepare, and present meals rooted in history. Each dish tells a story—of origin, ingredients, preparation methods, and nutritional value—connecting modern audiences to ancestral knowledge systems.
Participants work collaboratively to explore a wide variety of traditional meals, transforming cooking into both a cultural and educational experience. Under guided supervision, dishes are prepared and later evaluated, reinforcing both skill development and cultural appreciation.
Beyond the kitchen, the project emphasizes documentation and digital preservation. High-quality images and knowledge about these foods are captured and shared on open platforms, ensuring that Yoruba culinary heritage is not only experienced but also preserved and accessible to a global audience.
This initiative highlights how indigenous cuisine serves as a bridge between generations—preserving identity, promoting language use, and opening pathways for entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.
