This year, we’re off to Libreville, Gabon! We meet from June 13 to 18 for the Libreville FISE District. On the program: initiations and demonstrations of Roller Freestyle, Trottinette Freestyle, Skateboard Freestyle, BMX Freestyle Park & Breaking.

“We believe we are the heart and soul of the community. The city feels our energy. We see the city of Lagos differently and interact with it not just through skating but through a visual documentation.”

Diamond In The Rough gives you a feeling of the rawness and perils of navigating Lagos, Nigeria - the West African “megacity” - through the eyes of an aggressive rollerblader, on tiny wheels.

Lagos is as challenging an urban environment as one gets, with its own unique and extreme obstacles needed to navigate and survive. Indeed, it serves as a wealth of content and inspiration for a creative problem solver such as Daniel Ogbogu, an aggressive rollerblader and head of the Shinobi Blade Clan.

Daniel Ogbogu hacks street obstacles, scouts locations, and introduces new and old eyes to the sights of the city. From Marina to Agege, and places in between, Daniel documents the skills and growth of the Shinobi community and its extended family of rollerbladers, over a one year period (2021- 2022).

In Diamond In The Rough, Daniel and his cohorts, within all the chaos, use movement to express their soul. DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH (VOD) WILL BE READY FOR DIGITAL DOWNLOAD ON June 24, 2022.

Origin Story - Trailer 2

Daniel Ogbogu shares with us the highs and lows of trying to make Shinobi Blade Clan first VOD.

• Get the VOD on Hezekinapollutina.org.
• More Goodies on the Shinobi Blade Clan, Youtube Channel.

In the year 2019, Daniel Ogbogu and Samuel Igangan went on a four day trip to Ghana, to visit Abdul Karim and skate some cool spots in Accra, the whole piece was to be filmed and documented by Daniel Ogbogu, here is what went down on that trip.

Muiz goes hard on the pratice rail, and unlocks a new grind trick.

Previously: Shinobi Blade Clan - June 19’ - West Africa + Streets of Lagos by Dom West - Artwork by Thespiritskater.

August 2021: The Shinobi Blade Clan releases some skating footage from June 2019.

The Shinobi Blade Clan, a group of passionate individuals who are bound by the love of Rollerblading. Featuring: Caleb Austin Smith, Daniel Ogbogu, Samson Omotosho & Aloma Idris.

And if you want to see more of the Shinobi Blade Clan, here is the documentary by Dom West.

STREETS OF LAGOS | (African Rollerblading Documentary) by Dom West

Shot on location in West Africa, ‘Streets of Lagos’ provides a rare insight into the lives of Nigeria’s first generation of rollerbladers. What was once a niche sport that saw widespread participation across the globe in the late 90’s has emerged in 2020 as a fringe subculture in the streets of Lagos. Originally used as a way to navigate the city’s dense traffic, today, a select few use their skates as a form of self-expression, something which can be hard to find in what is one of the toughest cities in the world.

The story is told through the eyes of Daniel Ogbogu, Lagos’ strongest up-and-coming street skater, who gives insight into the struggles of daily life in Nigeria and the strength that skating gives him. He is joined by travelling professional athlete, Brian Freeman, who seeks to nurture the sense of community amongst the youths of Lagos and to help them find sense in the chaotic world in which they live.

A Film by Dom West. Starring Daniel Ogbogu & Brian Freeman. Soundtrack: Rob Law & Music Bed. Shot on location: Lagos, Nigeria.

Check some photos & behind the scenes on Untitledfilmworks.com.au.

Michael (7) and Elijah (6) are two young South African skaters. The amount of passion and excitement this two have for skating is motivational.

When they are skating in the park, you see skateboarders clap their hands like you haven’t seen all day. I’m excited to be lucky enough to have this two around me and I’m hoping to have a lot more kids joining them soon! - Ricardo Lino.

Michael and Elijah both skate USD Transformer Skates.

Long time Xsjado supporter and South African super skater Earl Abrahams teams up with Greg Fraser for a topnotch au revoir to Xsjado’s last release, the XSJADO FAREWELL skate. Get those blades in your favorite skate shop as long as they are available.

More infos soon on the future resurrection/ transformation of Xsjado to Shadow under the umbrella of USD skates. Skates: Xsjado Farewell PB with Kizer Level 3.1 frames. Video: Greg Fraser. Location: Capetown, South Africa.

It is such an honor to announce the release of “The Files of Abraham (Portfolio of an African Inline Skater)” that myself and Greg Fraser has been working on for the past 4 years! - Earl Abrahams.

A short inline skating piece set in the culturally rich and diverse Cape Town, the mother city of Southern Africa and home to Earl Abrahams who is probably the most active mixed discipline inline skater in Africa.

Many days of inspiration channeled into the pursuit of acquiring uniquely synchronized captures between skater and cameraman were the ingredients that were used to create the the files of Abraham, a reduction of the coolest moments we recorded from the recent past.

The Files of Abraham - Portfolio of an African Inline Skater.

Photo.

As most of you might know, I’m Portuguese but I live in Africa. And the reason why is live in Africa is because i went to this country called Angola, I first went to Angola to skate but i ended up meting a lot of people in Angola.

I’m making this video to share with you come of the moments i spent in one of most important countries that i have ever visited (for me). This Video was filmed in Luanda and Lobito during the SPEED tour in 2015, and sadly one of the kids in this video is not with us anymore.

REST IN PEACE CARLOS, i will never forget you! - Ricardo Lino.

Freeskating through the city streets of Capetown, South Africa with Earl Abrahams, Ricardo Lino & Greg Fraser. No matter if on four or three, on 80, 90, 110 or even 125mm, those pals choose UC wheels from the Wildlife collection. Shot & cut by the man himself, Greg Fraser.