Editorial Policy

Last updated: September 29, 2026

History matters to the people who live it, and it is often told differently from one community to another. This page explains the standards we hold ourselves to when we publish an entry.

Sourcing

• Each entry lists its sources at the bottom: books, articles, archives, recorded interviews or other references.
• We prefer published scholarship, primary documents and first-hand accounts over unsourced summaries.
• Where a claim has no reliable source, we say so or leave it out.

Review status

Every entry shows one of two labels:

• Reviewed by [name]: a historian, scholar, elder or other knowledgeable person has read the entry and agreed to be credited.
• Not yet independently reviewed: the entry has been written and checked by our team but has not yet had an outside review. We are open about this so readers can judge for themselves.

Contested histories

Royal lineages, succession disputes, boundaries and the origins of peoples are sometimes told in more than one way. Where accounts differ, we aim to describe each account fairly, attribute it to its source, and avoid presenting one version as settled when it is not.

Oral history and consent

When an entry draws on the recorded words of an elder or community member, we credit them by name unless they ask us not to, and we record only with their agreement.

Images and credits

We credit the photographer, archive or owner of an image wherever we know it. If you own an image we have used and want it credited differently or removed, please contact us.

Read-aloud and pronunciation

The read-aloud feature uses the voice built into your device or browser, unless an entry has a recorded narration. Automated voices may pronounce Nigerian names and words imperfectly, especially in Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and other languages. Where we have a recording by a human narrator, we use it in preference.

Corrections

• Every entry has a Report a correction form at the bottom.
• We read each report and check it against our sources and, where needed, an outside reviewer.
• When we confirm an error, we fix it and the entry's "Updated" date changes.
• You can also email support@kinvaultai.com.ng with sources or additional information.

Root Tracking reports

Archive entries are written from cited sources. Root Tracking reports are different: the text is written by an AI system from general published knowledge, using only the places and groups you enter, and it is not individually checked by a historian unless it says so. Where information is thin, a section says it is limited or is left out rather than guessed. See our Terms for details.

Advertising and independence

KinVault AI may show advertising to help cover its costs. Ads appear only on archive entries and the archive list, never on Root Tracking or report pages. Advertisers and sponsors do not choose, write or edit our content, and they have no influence over how a history is told. If we ever publish sponsored content, it will be clearly labelled.

Contributing

Historians, researchers, teachers and community members who want to contribute or review entries are welcome. Contributors are credited on the entry, and every contribution goes through the same sourcing and review standards as our own writing. Email support@kinvaultai.com.ng to get involved.