Skate Culture in Nigeria
In Nigeria, skate culture, while still emerging in most of the public consciousness, has deep roots that extend back almost a decade. Let’s see how skateboarding become an integral part of Nigerian youth culture, and how it has grown into the vibrant community it is today?
While Nigeria may not be known globally for a rich skate scene, skateboarding actually first began to gain traction in the mid-2010s. A handful of enthusiasts took to the streets with their boards. Pioneers like Slawn, alongside his friends in the WafflesNcream crew, were instrumental in the early days of the movement. Before his eventual move to London, Slawn made significant contributions to building the skate scene in Nigeria. Along with fellow skaters like Soldier and Onyedi, they scrounged for gear, built makeshift ramps, and created spaces where they could skate and express themselves.
What started as a small underground movement quickly expanded, particularly in urban centers like Lagos and Abuja, where youth began to embrace the sport as a means of self-expression.
For many Nigerian skaters, skateboarding isn’t just a hobby or a passing trend. It represents a lifestyle defined by creativity, freedom, and community. Central to this culture is the idea of self-expression—skating allows Nigerian youth to carve out their own identities. The community itself thrives on rebellion and individuality, elements that also resonate strongly with the streetwear movement. Skaters and streetwear enthusiasts alike use their fashion choices and skating abilities to project a sense of autonomy and authenticity.
The rise of skate culture in Nigeria can also be attributed to the internet’s influence. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have allowed Nigerian skaters to connect with a global audience, share their skills, and participate in the broader skating conversation. This virtual exposure has brought attention to the skateboarding lifestyle in Nigeria, fostering a sense of belonging among skaters who once felt isolated in their passion.
A pivotal figure as mentioned before in this scene is Jomi Marcus-Bello, the founder of wafflesncream, Nigeria’s first skate brand. His brand has been at the forefront of the skateboarding movement, offering not just skateboards but streetwear that complements the skating lifestyle. Wafflesncream has played a crucial role in building a community around skateboarding, sponsoring skaters and hosting events, and has now added to its legacy with the construction of WAFPark, the newest and most significant skatepark in Nigeria. Built in Lagos, WAFPark has quickly become a gathering spot for skaters and streetwear enthusiasts alike. It’s more than just a skate park—it’s a space for creatives to meet, collaborate, and grow the culture. Importantly, wafflesncream has also contributed to the development of the scene by supporting the rise of Nigerian pro skaters like Kagiso, Henry, and Fahd, who have become certified professionals in the sport.
In Abuja, the skate community is also flourishing, thanks to the efforts of Goskate, a collective that’s pushing the skate culture with the same passion and dedication as wafflesncream. Goskate has been instrumental in building a community of skaters in the nation’s capital for almost a decade, hosting events, providing gear, and helping more young Nigerians discover the joys of skateboarding.
On the other side of the movement, Dencity Girls, Nigeria’s first all-female skate crew, has taken the lead in making skateboarding more inclusive. They also embrace streetwear as part of their identity, using fashion to assert their presence in the skate scene. Dencity Girls have been leading the narrative of promoting female skaters, offering mentorship, and pushing for greater visibility and representation in the skate community.
In recent times, this scene has started to break into the mainstream as people find out in shock it even existed, thanks in large part to the influence of prominent Nigerian artists. Asake and Rema, two of Nigeria’s biggest stars, have begun publicly embracing skateboarding as part of their public personas. Asake, in particular, has drawn widespread attention to his love for the sport with his track titled “Skating.”
Asake’s skating videos, which often feature him doing tricks with Slawn in London, have introduced a whole new audience to the sport. His integration of skateboarding into his music has sparked curiosity among Nigerian fans, many of whom are just now discovering that skate culture has been thriving in Nigeria for nearly a decade.
