Closing 2025 with Gratitude and Pride

As the curtain closes on 2025, a year marked by unwavering dedication and significant milestones, I find myself reflecting with deep gratitude on the collaborative journey we have undertaken. This past year has been defined by concerted effort, continuous learning, and demonstrably visible growth, especially within the Swahili Wiktionary project. Our achievements are not merely statistical points; they represent the collective belief in the power of free knowledge and linguistic preservation.

Highlighting an Extraordinary Contribution: Bycashtz

Among all the commendable efforts and achievements this year, the exceptional dedication of one individual shines through and deserves the most prominent appreciation: Shagari Said, known throughout our community as Bycashtz.

Bycashtz’s introduction to the Swahili Wiktionary community was both impactful and symbolically timed. He officially joined on August 17, 2025, just one day after we had launched our second major AfroCrowd campaign aimed at accelerating contributions to Wiktionary. It was as if his arrival signaled the campaign’s success. With minimal initial guidance—relying on a few essential online instructions—he immediately grasped the project’s rhythm and methodology. More impressively, he demonstrated an inherent passion that saw no reason to pause his contributions.

The trajectory of his involvement was nothing short of astonishing. Within his first month, Bycashtz had already crossed the extraordinary threshold of 10,000 edits—an achievement that not only surprised but truly inspired the entire administrative team. What resonated even more deeply than the raw numbers was his consistency. He did not experience the typical slowdown that often follows an initial burst of activity. He did not disappear. Instead, he maintained a relentless, high-quality presence, showing up day after day to enrich the dictionary.

A Monumental Impact: The Numbers Speak

As of the final day of the year, December 31, 2025, Bycashtz’s contributions have culminated in monumental figures:

• 31,665 Wiktionary entries added. This figure represents a massive, high-quality lexical expansion of the Swahili language resource.
• About 50,313 total edits. This number encompasses not just new entries but crucial quality-control, formatting, and refinement edits that ensure the project’s integrity.

His individual commitment has been the primary engine for the project’s collective success. Due to his dedication, the overall size of the Swahili Wiktionary has seen explosive growth: it expanded from 15,926 entries in August to a remarkable 54,476 entries by December 31, 2025.

This growth trajectory has significantly elevated our global standing. Swahili Wiktionary now ranks as the 57th largest Wiktionary out of a total of 174 worldwide. These phenomenal numbers transcend simple statistics; they are a tangible manifestation of discipline, profound commitment, and an unwavering belief in the foundational principles of free, open-access knowledge.

The Future of Swahili Wiktionary

Bycashtz’s username has become a reassuring and familiar presence in the recent changes feed—a consistent sign of reliability, passion, and high-volume, quality work. As a mentor and an administrator within the project, I express my deepest professional and personal pride in observing his journey, growth, and indispensable contribution to the Swahili language online.

My most sincere thanks must also be extended to every single person who supported, guided, and contributed to our work throughout 2025. This incredible progress is a shared victory that belongs to all of us who champion the Wikimedia mission.

As we enthusiastically step forward into 2026, I strongly encourage Bycashtz to maintain this incredible momentum, continuing to enrich the Swahili Wiktionary with the high-quality lexical content that has defined his tenure thus far.
To all friends, contributors, and supporters of the global Wikimedia movement: Happy New Year! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being an integral part of this inspiring and transformative journey.

Muddyb
31-12-25
Chanika, DSM.