The Nigerian Youth scene is teeming with talent and an untamable desire for expression and release. The usual suspects are musicians, filmmakers, designers, models, etc, but deep in the heart of the city of Lagos, young people have found a platform and a community to express themselves through activities like skating and biking.
The skate scene in Nigeria has been growing for years but since it started rising to mainstream acceptance, the sport has mainly been dominated by male skaters, with less room for female skaters and other marginalized genders who may not feel completely comfortable in spaces that don’t cater directly to them. This is why the founding of Dencity has become so integral to the growth of the sport in Nigeria, not only has it made room for more in a community built on freedom of expression but it’s also become a safe space for young LGBTQ people looking for a safe community to have fun and be themselves.
Community is one of the most sought-after phenomena on the planet. What started as Blessing Ewona and a few of her friends skating every weekend at the National Stadium has grown to a full-blown community. In the community, people find a safe space to do things that unite them, and in some cases, liberate them. The essence of the community is not lost on the organizers at Dencity, Nigeria’s pioneer skate group for women and marginalized genders.
On Saturday, the 8th of January 2022, Dencity organized an open skating event. At least a hundred young people gathered together at the outer caverns beneath the aged monument that is the National Stadium, Surulere to skate and spectate. The skate sesh was a success, and as this budding form of creativity and expression continues to build a place for itself on Nigeria’s urban scene, the possibilities continue to grow for collaboration, community and expression.
