Visionary Reports

Photographers across Cameroon have been invited to participate in the eighth edition of the Wiki Loves Earth Cameroon photo contest, an initiative aimed at promoting the country’s protected areas and natural heritage on the global stage.The month-long competition, launched on June 1, 2026, at ActivSpaces in Buea by the Wikimedians of Cameroon User Group, will run until June 30 and is open to professional photographers, amateur enthusiasts, Wikimedian volunteers, and anyone passionate about documenting nature and cultural heritage.Organizers say the contest offers a unique opportunity to increase the visibility of Cameroon’s protected areas and national sites, potentially attracting greater international attention and boosting tourism.Participants are encouraged to capture and upload photographs of protected natural and cultural sites across the country. Among the locations eligible for the competition are the Hanging Bridge in Mamfe, the Mwanenguba Twin Lakes near Bangem, the Limbe Botanic Garden, the Bimbia Slave Trade Village, Mount Cameroon National Park, and Lake Awing, among many others.The submitted photographs must be released under a free license and uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository that supports Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects.

As part of the launch activities in Buea, participants attended a practical training session on nature photography and image uploading techniques. The workshop was led by Adeso Divisine, South West Regional Coordinator for the Wikimedians of Cameroon User Group, with support from the organization’s Secretary General, Arno Boujika.The hands-on session provided guidance on capturing high-quality photographs in natural settings and correctly uploading images to Wikimedia platforms, ensuring that contributors meet the competition’s technical requirements.According to Adeso Divisine, the evaluation phase will take place in July 2026. A jury will assess submissions based on several criteria, including technical quality, originality, educational value, accuracy of description, and artistic merit.

Attractive Cash Prizes Up for Grabs

The competition offers prizes in two categories.The first category rewards the three best photographs submitted by different participants. The winner will receive FCFA 100,000, while the second and third-place winners will take home FCFA 75,000 and FCFA 50,000 respectively.A second category recognizes contribution volume. The participant who uploads the highest number of photographs during the contest will receive a prize of FCFA 15,000.

Wiki Loves Earth is an international photography competition organized annually in numerous countries to document and preserve images of natural heritage sites. Through Wikimedia Commons, the photographs become freely accessible to millions of users worldwide, contributing to public knowledge and environmental awareness.The Wikimedians of Cameroon User Group, which has been affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation since July 2017, coordinates the initiative in Cameroon. Its mission is to promote the free dissemination of knowledge through Wikimedia projects, including Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata, and Wikiquote.The group currently comprises approximately 100 volunteers distributed across four regional hubs in Yaoundé, Douala, Maroua, and Buea.By encouraging citizens to document Cameroon’s rich natural and cultural landscapes, organizers hope the contest will not only enrich Wikimedia platforms but also inspire greater appreciation and conservation of the country’s heritage sites.

By VisionaryReports