Dance of Traditions: Join Wiki Loves Folklore’s 2025’s Global Celebration!

Joris Darlington Quarshie

Joris Darlington Quarshie is a Ghanaian data scientist, software engineer, and cloud specialist. Fluent in Twi and English, he is the Event Coordinator for Wiki Loves Folklore and Community Lead for the African Wikimedia Technical Community. With a history of impactful roles, including at Wikimania 2023 and Open Foundation West Africa, Joris is dedicated to advancing technology and fostering inclusivity in Africa and beyond.


Imagine a world alive with colours, stories, and melodies, where every community’s unique traditions come together to form a kaleidoscope of human creativity. This is the spirit of Wiki Loves Folklore (WLF) 2025—a celebration of the world’s folk culture and the magic it brings to our lives. From February 1st to March 31st, 2025, we invite you to join us in preserving and sharing humanity’s most cherished intangible heritage. Let’s celebrate folklore like never before, through photographs, videos, and audio that capture the essence of culture around the globe.

Why Folklore?

Folklore is the living memory of humanity, capturing the essence of who we are and where we’ve come from. It’s as varied as the people who carry it, transcending time and geography to unite us in universal expressions of joy, struggle, and tradition. Some examples of folklore across regions include:

  • Asia: The enchanting “Sherawali,” the warrior goddess who rides a tiger in Indian festivals, and the eagle-hunting traditions of Mongolian nomads.
  • Africa: The spirited rhythms of the Ghanaian talking drum and the mythical stories of Anansi the spider, a cultural hero across West Africa.
  • Europe: The intricate lace-making traditions of Slovenia and the captivating Celtic myths of Ireland.
  • The Americas: The ceremonial dances of the Hopi tribe and the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico.
  • Oceania: The storytelling dances of Polynesia and the Aboriginal Dreamtime tales of Australia.

The beauty of folklore lies in its ubiquity and diversity, offering infinite opportunities for documentation, learning, and cultural appreciation.

A Year of Partnerships and Collaboration

In 2025, Wiki Loves Folklore is not just about photography; it’s about building bridges. We’re excited to invite Wikimedia Affiliates and local organizers to partner with folklore organizations, media houses, and cultural institutions in their regions. Together, we can amplify the impact of this campaign by capturing and preserving local traditions through powerful collaborations.

Whether you are a long-time affiliate, a new group, or an individual volunteer, this is your chance to showcase your community’s unique cultural treasures. Our 2025 organizer page is now live, and we encourage you to sign up here to host a campaign in your country.

Showcase the Magic of Folklore

This year, we’ve significantly increased our prize pool and introduced new categories:

  • Photo Category: 1st Prize: $500, 2nd Prize: $400, 3rd Prize: $300, and more!
  • Video Category: Prizes for best oral storytelling, video storytelling, and sustainable folklore.
  • Audio Category: Awards for overall best and best folklore podcast series.
  • Top Uploader Category: Prizes for the top three contributors.
  • Community Prizes: Recognizing volunteer excellence and top uploaders with postcards.
  • Regional Prizes: Awards for top entries from each region, including MENA, SSA, SA, ESEAP, LAC, NA, NWE, and CEECA.

Imagine the vibrant sounds of traditional instruments, the cadence of folk songs, and the visual splendour of cultural dances coming together to create a multi-sensory archive of human heritage.

Here are moments from past campaigns to inspire your creativity: 

For Images:

  • CC-BY-SA 4.0-Paul-shy (2021)
  • CC-BY-SA 4.0-Mg Myo Minn Aung (2024)
  • CC-BY-SA 4.0-Pdhang (2023)
  • CC-BY-SA 4.0-WAVRIK (2022)
  • CC-BY-SA 4.0-Paul-shy (2021)
  • CC-BY-SA 4.0-Mg Myo Minn Aung (2024)

CC-BY-SA 4.0-Mg Myo Minn Aung (2024)

For Videos


Yoruba Storytelling by Iyailu (CC-BY-SA 4.0)

For Audios

Chendamelam of Kerala by Shagil Kannur (CC-BY-SA 4.0)

These glimpses from previous years illustrate the powerful storytelling that Wiki Loves Folklore continues to nurture.

How to Get Involved

  1. Organize a Local Campaign: Plan photo walks, folklore documentation events, or cultural exhibitions in your community.
  2. Partner Locally: Collaborate with folklore societies, museums, and media organizations to gather and share cultural content.
  3. Contribute Media: Capture and upload images, videos, or audio files showcasing folk traditions, festivals, dances, music, attire, and more.
  4. Join the Local regional and International Team: Volunteers are welcome to help coordinate the global campaign and support local organizers.
  5. Spread the Word: Share the campaign in your networks and inspire others to participate in this celebration of cultural heritage.

For personalised support or to brainstorm your campaign ideas, contact us at support@wikilovesfolklore.org. Our team is here to help you every step of the way.

Folklore in 20 Languages

To emphasise the universality of folklore, here is the word translated into 20 different languages:

  1. French: Folklore
  2. Spanish: Folclore
  3. Arabic: الفلكلور (Al-Folklor)
  4. Swahili: Fasihi Simulizi
  5. Chinese: 民間文化 (Mínjiān Wénhuà)
  6. Russian: Фольклор (Fol’klor)
  7. Hindi: लोक कथा (Lok Katha)
  8. Portuguese: Folclore
  9. Japanese: 民間伝承 (Ēmin Wa Denshō)
  10. German: Folklore
  11. Italian: Folclore
  12. Bengali: পুরানান্তি (পুরানান্তি )
  13. Yoruba: Ise Awọn Baba nla
  14. Greek: Λαογραφία (Laografia)
  15. Tamil: லோககதை (லோககதை)
  16. Malay: Cerita Rakyat
  17. Korean: 민사 (Minsa)
  18. Turkish: Folklor
  19. Hausa: Al’adun Gargajiya
  20. Zulu: Amagugu Esintu

A Call for Contributors: Share Your Culture with the World

This year, we’re not only inviting organizers to host campaigns—we’re encouraging everyone to participate directly by contributing cultural content. Here’s how you can get involved:

1. Capture Folklore with Your Lens

  • Take photographs of traditional festivals, dances, crafts, rituals, attire, and celebrations in your community.
  • Record videos of folk dances, oral storytelling, or local music performances.
  • Upload audio recordings of folk songs, instrumentals, or even traditional chants.

2. Document the Stories Behind the Traditions

  • Share descriptions and narratives about the traditions you capture. For example, explain the significance of a festival or the meaning of a ritual at the description when uploading your media to Wikimedia Commons.

3. Join the Wiki Commons Contribution Challenge

  • Compete with fellow contributors by uploading the most impactful media that tells the story of your culture.

4. Spread the Word

  • Inspire others to document their cultural heritage by sharing your contributions on social media using the hashtag #WikiLovesFolklore2025.

Let’s Celebrate Together!

With over 121,512 media files contributed to date, Wiki Loves Folklore continues to grow as one of Wikimedia’s most cherished campaigns. This year, we’re counting on your enthusiasm and creativity to make it even more impactful. Let’s document the world’s folk heritage and tell its stories together.

Grab your camera, gather your team, and join us in this incredible journey. Let’s celebrate the richness of folklore from every corner of the earth. The stage is set, and the world awaits your story.


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