Zambia is set to take part in the global Wiki Loves Monuments 2024 competition for the second time, with the Wikimedia Community User Group Zambia confirming the dates and prizes for this year’s event. The competition, which celebrates cultural heritage through photography, will run from 1st to 31st October 2024. Participants will compete for top prizes in the form of vouchers: K4,000 for first place, K2,500 for second place, and K1,500 for third place. In a move aimed at bolstering the documentation of Zambia’s cultural heritage, the Wikimedia Community User Group Zambia has announced a partnership with the Chalo Chatu Foundation, the organisation behind Zambia’s online encyclopedia. This collaboration is expected to enhance the quality and reach of the competition. The group also expressed hopes of working again with the National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC), following previous successful collaborations.
Wiki Loves Monuments, which began in 2010, is recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest photographic competition in the world. It encourages participants from around the globe to capture and share images of heritage sites, which are then made available on Wikimedia Commons, a free media repository that supports projects like Wikipedia. Zambia’s re-entry into this prestigious competition presents an opportunity to showcase the country’s rich cultural landscape on an international platform. “This is more than just a competition; it’s a chance for Zambia to highlight its unique cultural heritage to the world,” said a spokesperson for the Wikimedia Community User Group Zambia. The group anticipates a strong collection of images from across the country, reflecting Zambia’s diverse historical and cultural sites. Beyond the competition, the Wikimedia Community User Group Zambia sees this as a crucial step towards initiating conversations on the issue of freedom of panorama in the country. Freedom of panorama refers to the right to publish images of public places and buildings without restrictions — a right that is not yet fully recognised in Zambia. The group hopes that this event will spark dialogue on the need for such legal provisions, which are vital for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage through photography.
As the competition draws near, the Wikimedia Community User Group Zambia is preparing to release further details on how to participate. The group is calling on photographers of all skill levels, from amateurs to professionals, to take part in documenting Zambia’s heritage. With the competition open to all, participants are encouraged to explore and photograph Zambia’s cultural landmarks, contributing to a global effort to preserve history through images.
For more information and updates, stay tuned to the official channels of the Wikimedia Community User Group Zambia.