Last updated a year ago
The African Image Archive
Problem
There's still a huge problem with how the world sees Africans. Unfortunately, there's a much bigger issue with how African's see themselves mainly because of how we've been portrayed for years.
Total to date
This is the total amount allocated to The African Image Archive.
About this idea
[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant
Kwaku Opoku[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)
Entity (Not Incorporated)[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)
7[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language.
No[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)
We are empowering Africans and African image makers and holders to share their stories authentically and contribute to a more accurate global understanding of the continent through images.
[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
No[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”
No dependencies.
[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?
No[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs
Although it's no, it's a complex "no" because, there are parts of the platform that will be open source. We'll build a slew of integrations for the platform that could also be used outside of it and be beneficial to freelancers or other users.
Some examples of such widgets are "photo topic randomizers" for photo shooting challenges that will be embedded on the site to get users interacting with each other based on different filters.
Free lancers can scrape this code and add to it however they like. There are other widgets we're also still developing that will exist on the site.
[METADATA] SDG rating
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Reduce inequality within and among countries
[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution.
The Image Library, dubbed "The Mfonim Archive" is a digital platform dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich visual narratives of Africa, captured exclusively through the lenses of Africans.
Our mission is to provide a comprehensive and authentic representation of African history, culture, and contemporary life, fostering a deeper under-standing and appreciation of the continent’s diverse heritage globally.
Further, we’re unraveling a more authentic rep-resentation of Africans by Africans that now tells a more accurate story. The archive, with both paid and free access is home to a huge pull of carefully curated images. It'll serve as an educational platform especially if your studies or work are related to doing research.
[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community.
TMA’s primary target audience includes universities, colleges, researchers, historians, students, and individuals with a keen interest in African history, culture, and visual storytelling. These are fields that some of the major Cardano stakeholder's are in. By providing a rich and diverse collection of images, TMA is an invaluable resource for research, education, and cultural exploration, facilitating a deeper understanding of Africa’s rich heritage and contemporary life.
Beyond Decentralization, were also Decolonizing which in-turn builds stronger communities. And just like Cardano, we know that, "when the network is fully decentralized it will belong to the community..." The community owns their image and their images, they get to decide what they want to do with it, we are merely custodians. By leveraging Cardano's blockchain technology, The Mfonin Archive increases trust and transparency in its operations, which is crucial when dealing with cultural heritage and personal family collections.Utilizing the blockchain for transactions ensures transparency and trust among participants, as all agreements and exchanges are recorded immutably. This also opens up opportunities to clearly define the terms for submission, usage, and compensation related to the families' image collections. And even further, more accurately for this project, smart contracts will effectively allow us to efficiently manage the rights associated with the images, protecting both the archive's and the contributors' interests.
Once the digital platform goes live online, we will stat rolling out resources on how it can be leveraged, added to and used to also generate finances. However, implementing this technology in a cultural preservation project highlights the real-world applications of Cardano, beyond conventional financial transactions. This also will likely attract attention from both the crypto community and those interested in cultural preservation, potentially growing the Cardano ecosystem.
In many moments, several Cardano integrations could be highly relevant and beneficial. However we're certain Tokenization of Images (NFTs) will provide opportunities to helps in verifying the authenticity of images but also allows for the creation of a new revenue stream through the sale or auction of NFTs, especially during exhibitions. We're also super interested in Decentralized Storage Solutions since we're sure that our collection will drastically grow, so exploring this as an option only makes sense.
[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?
I'm an artist, photographer, film maker and Designer. I'm currently living and working Switzerland, with my company Intersect Studio GmbH. As part of what I do currently, I work with Museum Rietberg in Zurich on very diverse projects. I'm currently working with them on an exhibition to send back the Benin Bronzes they have in their collection. Our previous project together involved Hans Himmelheber, an art anthropologist, dealer, and collector. I've handled some of these pieces before and been involved in provenance research in understanding the value of these pieces and even further, their impact on the makers – The Africans.
So, I posses both the technical and academic understanding of what it means to archive images. I've been shooting since I was 6 and I have images in this archive as well. So beyond just knowing how to archive, I'm very passionate about images and the power they possess to store. They are more or less story and memory banks.
I also run two companies that is involved in projects like these that require immense coordination and focus. There are enough people on the team with skills that make it quite easy to delegate and make sure everything runs smoothly.
[Project Milestones] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?
We have over 3000 Images from the 40s until today. That to us is major however it's the smallest piece in our journey. In order to complete your project successfully we first have to:
Have the online archive ready and running.
This is our frontline and front facing end for our our audience. Once that's up, interaction begins.
Get our first 10 universities and colleges subscribed.
This is very key in our development. Once we're able to get this done, it'll prove that even on the institutional level, there's a huge need for a platform like this. It successfully adds us to the list of other online libraries that most colleges and universities are subscribed to.
Get 1000 subscribers both free and paid in the first 5 months of operation
Getting past this mark will drastically help us organically market and gives a better idea of our scalability options and it's feasibility.
Get 10 families to add to the archive within the first 5 months
This right here is so important because it's a moment that not only builds community but shows a clear understanding of the platform stands for and also what the people want.
Get a space where we can employ people, host workshops, teach kids how to shoot and most importantly give people access to the physical images to do research.
A major milestone for us is definitely getting our space sorted. This opens up a new world of access for the users and in general many who are just curious. For us, it also builds our conservation efforts, because people who want their images on the archive, can sleep better knowing they're stored in a safe space. Further it provides employment opportunities for many people. And even further, people get to learn new skills through our workshops and resources available.
Partner with other institutions within the arts and culture space to start networks on much bigger culture and history conservation efforts.
This is an effort to get an alliance set up for conservation efforts all over the country. This means, now there'll be proper steps taking to make sure our works of heritage don't get damaged, they're properly taken care of and maintained, and potentially get more involved in restitution efforts. This alliance will be so key in the development of the Arts and Culture within the country.
[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?
Project Team and Roles for The Mfonin Archive
Peter Opoku
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peteropoku/
Role: Project Director
Responsibilities: Overseeing the entire project, strategic planning, team coordination, stakeholder engagement, ensuring alignment with the mission and vision of The Mfonin Archive.
Nana Opoku
Role: Head of Education & Curriculum Integration Lead
Responsibilities: Design and implement educational programs that align with the project's mission, such as workshops, seminars, and webinars.Work with educational institutions to integrate project resources into curricula, enhancing the learning experience.
Keabetswe Boccomino
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keabetswe-boccomino/
Role: Operations Manager
Responsibilities: Manages day-to-day operations, including resource allocation and operational workflow. Coordinate between different teams (creative, technical, administrative) to ensure cohesive workflow and communication.
Kofi Labi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kofi-labi/
Role: Digital Operations Manager & Finance
Responsibilities: Managing the digitization process, overseeing the digital platform, handling technical aspects of the archive, ensuring smooth digital operations. Managing finances, budgeting, overseeing funding, grants and sponsorships, ensuring financial sustainability of the project.
Ofeibea Sakyi-Addo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akua-ofeibea-sakyi-addo/
Role: Marketing and Outreach Lead
Responsibilities: Promoting the archive, engaging with educational and cultural organizations, developing marketing strategies, increasing visibility and usage.
Ahanna Anaba
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahannaanaba/
Role: Community Engagement and Client Acquisitions Manager
Responsibilities: Building relationships with potential clients, managing client relations and subscriptions, community engagement, expanding the archive’s reach.
Ethel Tawe (Pending confirmation)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethel-ruth-tawe/
Role: Curator, Provenance Research Lead & Art Handling (Proposed)
Responsibilities: Managing finances, budgeting, overseeing funding, grants and sponsorships, ensuring financial sustainability of the project.
Kwaku Opoku
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reezofficial/
Role: Co-Curator, Historical Research & Marketing Lead
Responsibilities: Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing strategy that aligns with the project's goals and targets the right audience. Establish and maintain a strong brand presence, ensuring consistent messaging and visual identity across all platforms.
[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources.
Cost Breakdown of the Proposed Work and Resources
Digitization and Archival:
- High-quality scanning equipment: $5,000
- Archival software: $2,000 annually
Platform Development:
- Website and digital archive development: $10,000
- Hosting and maintenance: $1,200 annually
Marketing and Community Engagement:
- Digital marketing (SEO, social media): $3,000 annually
- Community workshops and events: $2,500 annually
Operational Expenses:
- Office space rental in Ghana: $6,000 annually
- Utilities and other office expenses: $1,500 annually
Personnel:
- Salaries for team members (projected for 5 members): $50,000 annually
Professional Services:
- Legal and accounting services: $4,000 annually
Miscellaneous Expenses:
- Contingency fund: $5,000
Total Estimated Cost: $90,700 annually
Alternative Sources of Funding:
- Grants and sponsorships: $20,000
- Crowdfunding and donations: $10,000
[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?
The Mfonin Archive represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem through:
- Smart Contracts: With the aim being to bring more families on board to submit their collections, smart contracts are going to be the best way to be transparent with transactions and also make sure different families get the value for what they submit especially when used.
- Local Wage Alignment: Salaries and professional fees are in line with local standards in Ghana, ensuring cost-effectiveness without compromising on quality.
- Sustainable Model: The subscription-based revenue model and partnerships with educational institutions and cultural organizations provide a sustainable financial plan.
- Cultural and Educational Impact: The project's focus on African visual narratives contributes significantly to cultural preservation and education, aligning with the ethos of the Cardano community.
- Cost-effective Operations: The operational costs, including office space and utilities, are minimized due to the fact that we understand the market and have spaces available.
- Strategic Marketing and Outreach: The budget allocation for marketing and community engagement is designed to maximize impact and reach, ensuring a strong return on investment.
- Efficient Use of Resources: The allocation for digitization and archival processes is based on competitive pricing for high-quality equipment and software, ensuring long-term value.
