Disclaimer

DISCLAIMER: SANKOFA WINDS WEBSITE & CONTENT

(Epistemic Justice Protocol)

I. SANKOFA WINDS: OUR NATURE & INTENT

Sankofa Winds (Pty) Ltd. is a South African digital Heritage Initiative.

"All visual and narrative content on this site and associated channels (YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, Instagram etc) are modern, AI-reimagined interpretations (2025-2026) of precolonial African figures, deities, and folklore, with a dedicated focus on Southern African traditions.

They are:

NOT authentic historical or anthropological records.

NOT affiliated with or endorsed by living spiritual traditions or communities.

NOT replacements for authentic oral histories, which hold ultimate authority.

Our mission is to spark curiosity and foster engagement with Africa's profound and often obscured cultural legacies through speculative digital art and storytelling."

II. AI ART & CONTENT PROVENANCE

"Our prompts and narratives are generated:

Using scholarly texts, published mythology and folklore collections and public domain oral tradition text (The Kebra Nagast by E. A Wallis Budge 1922; Fetichism in West Africa by Rev Robert Hamill Nassau 1904; The Yoruba Speaking People by A. B Ellis 1894, South African Folk-Tales by James A Honey 1910 archives etc).

Without replicating copyrighted contemporary artworks or sacred, restricted cultural property.

With zero training on restricted sacred iconography (e.g., Akan goldweights, Ifá divination tools).

As original algorithmic syntheses intended for artistic and educational commentary."

III. CULTURAL CONTEXT & SAFEGUARDS (African Focus)

"We expressly recognize and affirm: 

🔒 Deities and Ancestral Figures (e.g. Òrìṣà, Vodun lwa, uMvelinqangi, iNkosazana) are living spiritual entities to millions. Our visuals are artistic metaphors, not religious depictions or objects of worship.

👑 Historical Figures are honored with respect for their living descendants and the nations they represent.

💎 Sacred Symbols and Practices (e.g., San Rock Art symbolism, Adinkra, Nsibidi, Ndebele geometric patterns, Zulu beadwork communication) remain the Intellectual Property (IP) of their originating cultures. We avoid depicting them in ceremonial or secret contexts. 

Trigger Warning: Some content abstractly references historical conflicts and colonial violence."

IV. LEGAL PROTECTIONS (South African Context)

"Our content and operations are guided by:

✅ South African Copyright Act (No. 98 of 1978): We operate under provisions for criticism, review, and research (Fair Dealing).

✅ Public Domain Claims: Where possible, narratives reference historical and folkloric sources pre-dating modern copyright.

✅ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 License: Users may share our content with credit for non-commercial purposes, and must share under the same terms.

❌ No AI Training Opt-Out: We prohibit the scraping of our site for AI training purposes via robots.txt and metadata tags.

✅ POPIA Compliance: We are committed to the protection of our users' personal information in accordance with South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA)." https://popia.co.za/

V. CORRECTION & VERIFICATION PROTOCOL: A Living Document

"Sankofa Winds is committed to a process of ongoing learning and correction. Our content is a starting point for dialogue, not a final authority.

If you are:

A member of a community whose stories we share (e.g., a San Elder, a Sangoma, Yoruba Babalawo, Akan queenmother, a Ndebele cultural custodian).

A recognized academic expert in African mythology, folklore, anthropology, or history.

A descendant of a depicted figure.

And you have feedback, corrections, or object to specific content:

Step 1: Initiate Dialogue
Email feedback@sankofawinds.com with the subject "Verification Query". Please include your name, affiliation (e.g., community, organization, family lineage), and specific details about the content in question.

Step 2: Verification Process

We will Acknowledge your query within 72 hours.

Initiate a process to verify the legitimacy of the claim, which may involve seeking counsel from other verified elders or academics in our network to ensure a fair and balanced review. This is our Elder/Council Verification process.

Engage with you respectfully to understand the context and nature of the correction needed.

Step 3: Resolution & Action 

Based on this verified consultation, we will take action, which may include:

Amending: the article or video description with corrected information and a public note of the update.

Adding: a moderator's note to the content reflecting the alternative perspective.

Removing: the contested material entirely if it is deemed culturally harmful or inaccurate.

Collaborating: with you to create a new, culturally-approved alternative.

VI. ACCOUNTABILITY & ADVISORY INTENT

"As a growing platform, we are in the process of formally constituting our Advisory Circle with verified experts and cultural custodians throughout the African diaspora. Our current consultative network will be engaging various organizations, custodians, historians, writers, spiritualist and archivists.

🔐 KEY LEGAL PHRASING

"By accessing this site, users agree that all AI-generated imagery and interpreted narratives are:

Transformative, created for educational and artistic purposes.

Non-competitive with authentic cultural artifacts or the interests of descendant communities.

Subject to the correction and take-down protocols outlined above."

- © 2025.Sankofa Winds.