With the help of Make Life Skate Life, an NGO that helps build concrete skate parks around the world, young Ethiopians have built themselves the country's first skate park, in Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia Skate —
With the help of Make Life Skate Life, an NGO that helps build concrete skate parks around the world, young Ethiopians have built themselves the country's first skate park, in Addis Ababa.
Courtesy Sean Stromsoe for Ethiopia Skate
Prior to the Skate park's build, skaterboarders used a parking lot in Sarbet, competing with soccer fans, taxis, and street bullies.
Ethiopia Skate —
Prior to the Skate park's build, skaterboarders used a parking lot in Sarbet, competing with soccer fans, taxis, and street bullies.
Courtesy Sean Stromsoe for Ethiopia Skate
Around 150 members make up street collective Ethiopia Skate.
Ethiopia Skate —
Around 150 members make up street collective Ethiopia Skate.
Courtesy Sean Stromsoe for Ethiopia Skate
The crew skate across trucks, cars and other high structures in their neighborhood to practice their jumps.
Ethiopia Skate —
The crew skate across trucks, cars and other high structures in their neighborhood to practice their jumps.
Courtesy Sean Stromsoe for Ethiopia Skate
Local crowds gather to watch the team skate. "Ethiopians are very easy people, they are not scared at all," says local skater Yared Aya.
Ethiopia Skate —
Local crowds gather to watch the team skate. "Ethiopians are very easy people, they are not scared at all," says local skater Yared Aya.
Courtesy Sean Stromsoe for Ethiopia Skate
Young skaters hang out inside the new Addis skate park. The local community in Addis Ababa learned from and worked alongside a team of over 60 volunteers from over 20 countries to build the park.
Ethiopia Skate —
Young skaters hang out inside the new Addis skate park. The local community in Addis Ababa learned from and worked alongside a team of over 60 volunteers from over 20 countries to build the park.
Courtesy Sean Stromsoe for Ethiopia Skate
Pictured here, local kids help with the construction of the new skate park.
Ethiopia Skate —
Pictured here, local kids help with the construction of the new skate park.
Courtesy Sean Stromsoe for Ethiopia Skate
Ethiopia Skate was co-founded by American photographer Sean Stromsoe and local skater Abenezer Temesgen, but has since become a community effort.
Ethiopia Skate —
Ethiopia Skate was co-founded by American photographer Sean Stromsoe and local skater Abenezer Temesgen, but has since become a community effort.
Courtesy Sean Stromsoe for Ethiopia Skate
Pictured here, local kids try out new tricks. The park reportedly pulls in kids from more privileged backgrounds as well as those from less well-off neighborhoods. <br />
Ethiopia Skate —
Pictured here, local kids try out new tricks. The park reportedly pulls in kids from more privileged backgrounds as well as those from less well-off neighborhoods.
Courtesy Sean Stromsoe for Ethiopia Skate
Yared Aya was born in Washington D.C. to Ethiopian parents and grew up skateboarding. When his family moved back to Ethiopia in 2013, he was keen to continue skating. "Africa has really grown and developed and I want to see it change even more in the future. I want more kids to be involved in skate," he says.
Ethiopia Skate —
Yared Aya was born in Washington D.C. to Ethiopian parents and grew up skateboarding. When his family moved back to Ethiopia in 2013, he was keen to continue skating. "Africa has really grown and developed and I want to see it change even more in the future. I want more kids to be involved in skate," he says.
Courtesy Sean Stromsoe for Ethiopia Skate
Skating is also picking up pace in Madagascar, where local skater Tinady Andriamasinoro established the Skateboarding Malagasy Educational Group known as SMEG.
Madagascar Skate —
Skating is also picking up pace in Madagascar, where local skater Tinady Andriamasinoro established the Skateboarding Malagasy Educational Group known as SMEG.
CNN
Pictured here, Andriamasinoro in action, in Tana, Madagascar. "When we started, we were just ten guys," he says. The group now boasts around 80 skaters.
Madagascar Skate —
Pictured here, Andriamasinoro in action, in Tana, Madagascar. "When we started, we were just ten guys," he says. The group now boasts around 80 skaters.
Jo Munnick/CNN