The Luanda Skatepark (2018)

The Luanda Skatepark was the first transnational skateboarding project I was involved with. It was headed by Concrete Jungle Foundation in collaboration with The Angolan Skateboarding Union. I was fascinated and admired how the Angolan skateboarding community organised within difficult circumstances over a common desire to construct the country’s first skatepark, following through by constructing in long hours to finish the job during November 2018. All together there were around ten builders from CJF of which four had professional skatepark experience, and from day-to-day, roughly ten Angolan skateboarders onsite all constructing the skatepark together.

Due to strict visa requirements for Angola we only had thirty days to complete the park of around 750m². We would start early morning and work into the evening often past midnight in order to complete the skatepark, with the most delicious lunch provided by one of ASU’s mothers at her family home. I remember the concluding remarks of a team meeting after a late-night pour to keep morale high: “we will do what needs to be done.” The project felt in essence DIY; expert amateurs across the world coming together under immense pressure of resources, funding and time, each bringing their own experiences and mastery into a collaborative effort towards a common goal underpinned by an unassailable love for skateboarding.

The Luanda Skatepark Project was a window into what is possible amongst people who come together over a shared passion and commitment. ASU organised, campaigned and constructed the country’s first skatepark and went on to oversee the day-to-day running of the space. Of note, they hosted a continental competition in which skateboarders representing countries all over Africa came to skate and compete. Beyond how people of different cultures and experiences may come together to design and build projects such as this, The Luanda Skatepark was an insight into how collaborations are mediated post-build and how these spaces may enact new possibilities that otherwise were unattainable.

Video by Harry Gerrard
Photos by Clare Thompson