As artificial intelligence reshapes how people access and trust information, questions about the future of open, reliable knowledge platforms are becoming more urgent. Against this backdrop, Bernadette Meehan, CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation, recently visited South Africa in May to engage with local Wikipedia volunteer communities.

The visit underscored the critical role African contributors play in shaping Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects, while highlighting ongoing efforts to strengthen representation of African knowledge in the world's largest free, freely accessible encyclopedia. It also comes amid growing global concern about misinformation, AI-generated content, and the sustainability of independent knowledge platforms.

Mpho Sithole put these issues to Wikimedia's CEO, Bernadette Meehan.