Exploring The Nigerian Skate Community: DENCITY

MARCH 8, 2023

“I DIDN’T GO WITH THE AIM OF BUILDING A COMMUNITY”

“I didn’t go with the aim of building a community” but It is a very community led crew, all the girls help each other out and there is room for everyone. Despite not having the best resources such as access to facilities and equipment for all members, the genuine camaraderie among the girls allows them to find inspiration and motivation within each other to keep coming back. Skateboarding as fun as it appears can also be a dangerous sport without proper gear, there are risks such as twisting your ankle and other injuries. You will fall down and just have to get back up. There are issues they face being a skate crew in Nigeria such as limited access to skating equipment and no skate parks so they have to resort to public spaces which sometimes they get kicked out of or being harassed by onlookers. They have however received support from brands such as WAFFLESNCREAM Nigeria's first skateboarding company. WAFFLESNCREAM have donated some boards to the skate crew and are also working on building Lagos’ first skate park. 

For DENCITY they see skateboarding in Africa on a wider scale. Skateboarding is a growing sport in Africa so they like to support each other. DENCITY is also in communication with other women-led skate crews in Africa receiving support from a Ugandan crew offering advice, singing their praises and tips on how to grow. Blessing has even been to Ghana for skate sessions with crews there. Skateboarding was deemed an Olympic sport in the summer of 2020. We asked Blessing if she has considered skateboarding as a career and even possibly competing in the Olympics: “Skateboarding is now an olympic sport so it would be really amazing seeing Nigerians represented there. We want to go professional and have our own skate show, we want to make money while skating too.”  Their goal is to have enough financial freedom from this so members and people interested in joining can afford to come out to skate, change their boards and receive support in whatever capacity they may need. They also hope to start programs for younger kids who might want to be involved.

Photo from DENCITY