Washiriki

Washiriki is a Swahili noun meaning “participants” or “those who take part” in a process, event, or activity. It is the plural form of mshiriki, which denotes a single participant. In Swahili noun-class system, washiriki belongs to the human class with wa- as the plural marker.

In usage, washiriki refers to the people who participate or contribute in meetings, surveys, programs, research studies, or community initiatives. The term appears in development reports, NGO documentation, educational materials, and public administration; it emphasizes involvement rather than leadership or authority.

Related terms include mshiriki (the singular participant) and washirika or mshirika (partners or collaborators). These forms share the same root shirik- meaning to participate or share, but they express different roles: washiriki for participants and washirika for partners. For example, a report might note that washiriki provided feedback, while partners (washirika) supported the project logistics. Etymologically, kushiriki means to participate, and the noun forms derive from this verb, reflecting Swahili’s noun-class system that marks number and animacy.