Skateboarding in Tanzania has been developing since the early 2000s thanks to the energy of a few enthusiasts who were able to begin to structure this discipline. 2 skateparks were created respectively in 2011 in Arusha within the Don Bosco Selesian Seminary with the support of Skate-Aid and in 2020 in Arusha within the Small Steps girls’ orphanage with the support of Wanders.
These two NGOs specializing in the field of setting up educational and social projects through skateboarding have enabled us to position ourselves. A stage and temporary installations also exist in Dar es Salaam within the Don Bosco Youth Center, these were financed and built via support provided by the French Embassy in 2022 and 2023 to the Tanzania Skateboard Organization association.
An “Asili Hip Hop Festival” event organized by the NGO We Present Tanzania and We Present France (Marseille) has been hosting a national Skateboard gathering since 2021 in the form of a Jam, an exhibition. A TAROSKA delegated federation has existed since 2016 and wishes to structure and support the development of the discipline at the national level.
Hassan Kisamo
Project Manager and Director of Tanzania Skateboarding Organization
As a part of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the French Embassy is financially supporting a two-year program called FSPI Twende Olympics Paris 2024. The project is managed by WePresent and the Tanzania Skateboarding Organization in collaboaration with the Attitude – Montpellier Skateboard association (Montpellier).
The program has been developed with the aim of promoting and structuring the Skateboarding scene in Tanzania. This program is administratively supported by WePresent Tanzania, coordinated by the Tanzania Skateboarding Organization and was designed with the main stakeholders working in the skateparks of Arusha and Dodoma in Tanzania. Since 2022, Skateboard GB has been developing a series of actions in partnership with TAROSKA in the field of training Skateboard sports educators.
World Skate has been developing cooperation and support programs for the development of skateboarding in Africa since 2023. The French Skateboard Federation also wants to get involved in programs in Africa.
The Attitude association, in partnership with the City of Montpellier, organizes an event every two years bringing together all stakeholders from across Africa. The first edition took place in October 2023 and brought together stakeholders from 8 countries African countries in which support programs are financed by French Embassies alongside other National and/or international partners
Bringing together the three main players in Skateboarding in Tanzania, this program aims to propose a two-year development project adapted to the level of development of the 3 main local players, to the environment and to Tanzanian realities and to strengthen and develop relationships and partnerships with other institutional and private actors working in the country and at the sub-regional level of East Africa.
It also aims to enable stakeholders to better and more structure their respective activities, propose a structuring program on a twoyear national scale, integrate the delegated federation in Tanzania and develop a 2024/2028 development program within it via the establishment of a skateboard department and being able to develop collaborations with national and international skateboarding institutional players and partners already present in the country and supporting this discipline.
The main actions relate to the training of sports educators, the organization of national detections, support for national and international mobility, the organization of a first national competition, the acquisition of equipment, training in the construction of infrastructure aimed at prefiguring the construction of a public skatepark in Dar Es Salam by 2025/26 and training in the field of new media
National Detection present the first skateboarding gathering and competition of its kind. The Detections will be held in Arusha nd Dodoma respectively. These are the only existing locations in Tanzania which have skatepark. The program will gather a total of 25 Participants across all active skateboarding scene in the country to participate in the Detection. The program consist of a Game of S.K.A.T.E, Best Lines and Best Trick Competition whereby winners will receive prize
The East African Skate Tour was the second iteration of the TZSKATE Tour, a project initiated by Tanzania Skateboarding Organization in 2022. The project aims to mobilize and expose the Tanzania Skate community to travel and experience other skate culture as well as creating films and photographs. For this year’s tour, Daniel from Arusha and Simon from Dodoma organized a team of 6 skateboarders from Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Dodoma, to travel around in Uganda and Kenya to learn about Uganda FSPI Project and Document the scene. The project aims was to foster collaborations and build relationships between our East African neighbors
Our entourage to Euro-Africa Biennale in Montpellier was lead by BASATA team and Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Hon. Hamis Mwijuma. He had the opportunity to learn more about our skateboarding mission in Tanzania. The minister met with inspirational young Africans from Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda and Gabon who are leading life changing skateboarding projects in their countries. The minister pledged to support the efforts of Tanzania Skateboarding Organization in bringing about the Dar es Salaam Public Skatepark. The program in Montpellier was designed as Presentations, Coaching sessions by French Roller Federation then later a contest at the end of the Program. The program was attended by more than 15 participants from 8 diffrent Nations from Africa who received coaching Diplomas from french Roller Federations
These internships include the following team members: Director, Production Administrator, Communications Manager, Content Creators (Videographers, Photographers, Graphic Designers), Community Managers and Press Officer. They also make it possible to bring together the entire WePresent Tanzania and WePresent France project team in order to work on these new media and on the appropriate communication and press relations tools. Communicating via social networks and documenting the activities implemented is essential to be able to both promote them but also be able to approach partners who can join in and support the program
Lack of equipment such as skateboards, protective gears and shoes is one of main factor hindering the development of skateboarding in Tanzania. Our team made an effort to secure a partnership deal with Elements Skateboards department in France which will sees us receive a donation 300 complete skateboards. The skateboards will be distributed as a donation to existing skateboard communities in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Arusha, Zanzibar, Mwanza and Mbeya.
Asili Skate Jam is the continuation of our contribution to Hip Hop Asili Festival as a result of 2 successful participations in 2022/23. At “Hip Hop Asili Festival” event organized by the We Present Tanzania and We Present France (Marseille) in Partnership with the Tanzania Skateboarding Organization has been hosting a yearly Skateboard gathering since 2022 in the form of a skateboard Jam and exhibition. The skate jam aims to bring skateboarders from all over Tanzania and abroad.
The component aims at giving skills in building DIY projects. This will foresee the construction Dar DIY skatepark. A team of volunteers nationwide will work on the skatepark facilitated by experts from Kenya and Uganda. The training program has been split in 2 different phases; 1) Acquisition of land and building materials research 2) Construction of the Skatepark The program will establish the first concrete skatepark in Dar es Salaam in the effort of bringing about the Dar es Salaam Public Skatepark project