Skateboarding, by its very nature, operates at the edge: it pushes, bends, and rewrites limits. Limits of style. Of expression. Of attitude. In Johannesburg, South Africa’s most populous city, a community of Black women is extending that same tension beyond the board: challenging social, cultural, and symbolic boundaries, one line at a time.

Through the lens of Karabo Mooki, we are introduced to this open, self-defined collective: a force that is at once individual and collective, where tricks and rights, runs and identities, move in sync. ‘Amandla’ becomes the visual exegesis of this movement: a firm response to gender-based violence, still deeply rooted in South African society; an ode to vulnerability that, when shared, turns into strength; and a form of resistance, as much as a quiet revolution, within the broader global skate landscape, still too often framed through a predominantly white, male narrative.

Karabo Mooki’s testimony offers a deeper entry point into this community, and into the urgency of the message it carries.

How, and why, did the idea of telling the story of a community of Black women skaters come about? And where did you find this community in South Africa?

“The documentation came about organically, meeting the women I documented came about at a skate session in Johannesburg, South Africa. Over time I began meeting more and more Black women who were embracing skate culture in South Africa and this implored me to want to help celebrate this new generation of skateboarders. It’s important to realize that skateboarding isn’t always embraced by Black communities and through my own experiences having limited proximity to Black role models in skateboarding has had a massive impact on my feelings toward the sport and the culture of skateboarding. It’s made me wonder what skateboarding means to Black women immersing themselves in this world. What it means to take up space in a predominantly white male sport. I became aware of the increasing presence of Black women in skateboarding and then managed to develop organic relationships with the community. 

People have to understand that South Africa has a tumultuous history with gender-based violence; the right to occupy public space is not equally shared amongst genders. Women are often met with harassment, micro-aggressions, and other threats that make them feel unsafe and unwelcome in public spaces. Crews of skateboarders such as the ‘Island Gals’ and ‘Spectrum’ are recreating the narrative by actively organizing and occupying spaces that many have previously felt uncomfortable being in. Their passion for skateboarding and community transcends through each individual and there is an undeniable sense of dedication to skateboarding and pushing for greater representation within the sport. The collective work of Black women in skateboarding has been impossible to ignore, and as a documentarian I found myself in the fortunate position of working alongside these dominant forces to help share their message on a global scale.”

What does Amandla mean? 

“Amandla in Zulu and Xhosa means ‘Power’, the word was a popular rallying cry in the resistance against apartheid.”

What kind of significance does a community like this hold within the country’s past, present and future social history?

“The emergence of this community feels like a political statement that has given Black youth a space to navigate their identity in their environment. This community rejected the idea of being left out of conversations and have been actively dismantling stereotypes and challenging the media’s voyeuristic perversion of what it is to be a Black woman in skateboarding. They continue to push for greater representation and to uplift a strong community.”

The entire reportage was shot on film. Why did you make that choice?

“Analogue photography feels a lot more intentional to me. I am a lot more present with the communities I am engaged with as well as the moments I aim to photograph. There is an undeniable truth in analogue photography that celebrates imperfections.”

In this documentary project, skateboarding becomes a way to explore both individual and collective identity. Your photography often draws from that kind of dimension, why is that? 

“I believe representation is a catalyst for incredible developments within communities. These stories highlight the importance of Black identity, equality in sport, representation and inclusion. Skateboarding culture has been perceived to be built on the foundation of anti-establishment and counterculture, and yet seemingly predominantly occupied by white cis gender males. I felt the need to bring truth to light, documenting the evolution of the culture and the narrative that has not been celebrated by mainstream media. The political nature of the themes I explore in my work is something that I continue to perpetuate.”

More broadly, what role do you think sport plays as a storytelling tool?

“I believe sport is a central space for communities to congregate over a shared love of an activity. Historically sport has had the potential to be a space where inclusivity can be celebrated, sports can provide a space to platform global issues inviting people to be confronted with uncomfortable truths and conversations about reform.”

For Athleta Mag, sport is a form of art. In your eyes, where does skateboarding become art?

“Skateboarding has always been defined by style. Before the Olympics invited skateboarding into its domain, it had been well accepted that skateboarding could not be judged in an athletic fashion but rather celebrated as a form of self expression. I sincerely believe this to be true, skateboarding will always be an art form born from a form of self expression.”

Could you share a story, or a testimony, from one skater you feel is particularly symbolic for this project?

“A quote from Naledi really resonated with me. I learned that Naledi not only skates for her own personal development, but to also advance the interests of other Black women in Africa: “Skateboarding has played a vital role in my personal growth. I’m constantly hungry to learn new tricks, and it’s this process of pushing myself that really drives me – I can never get enough of it. I have a deep desire to gain as much as I can from skating, so I can see how far hard work and dedication can take me. I want to run wild with what I learn through skating. As a Black woman in Africa, I feel like I’m part of a really unique movement within the skateboarding community. Not long ago it felt foreign for Black girls to skate. It was known for being a sport designed for men, but now with the new wave of Black girls in skateboarding I feel as if there’s more opportunity for us to showcase ourselves.”

Do you plan to document more meaningful stories like this, connected to the world of sport, in the near future?

“As an independent photographer, embarking on personal projects requires a lot of investment. I pour everything into realizing photo stories, but it’s not easy. Production costs are difficult to cover independently but as time goes on and my investments become greater, I find that simultaneously the relationships created are strengthened. My gratitude for the time and trust is expressed through ensuring the integrity of the communities I work with is upheld. It would be my honour to be able to continue this type of work and to be able to engage with editors that are willing to invest in celebrating these stories in sport.”