A senior research fellow at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Dr Chika C Mba, has emphasised the urgent need for Africans to embrace and preserve their cultural identity, warning that neglect and abuse of African traditions directly contribute to poverty and social breakdown.
Speaking at the official launch of the Africa Wiki Challenge (AWC) 2025 in Accra on May 23, Dr Mba praised the initiative for encouraging Africans to document and celebrate their history, knowledge and identity.
However, he called for a more independent African-led platform. "The Wiki challenge is good; it is interesting.
As Chinua Achebe said, Until the lions are able to tell their stories, the story of the hunt will always glorify the hunter," he noted. "It is important to tell our own stories, but the question is, on what platform?" He questioned the reliance on global platforms like Wikipedia, suggesting the need for alternatives that are not rooted in colonial frameworks. "Maybe we shouldn't have it as a Wiki challenge, but something independent that is not tied to the colonialist," he added.
