Photos by Karabo Mooki, Chrystelle Duvenage & Pulen Seolane
Interview by Jonathan Hay
Follow the band on instagram: @twentyonechidren
so we laid down some wood to make the run-up happen. Photo: Karabo Mooki
How did you first get interested in skateboarding while living in Soweto/Johannesburg?
I got into skateboarding in my late teens through rock and roll music videos and playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater. I’d also attend this annual event called the Rand Easter Show, where we would sneak in to watch bands and pro skaters as they deliver the goods.
How did you organize the build of Soweto’s first skatepark?
There were already a few parks at the time, but ours was the first DIY one. Some of my buddies had a container where they sold clothes and accessories. The container was located right next to a dumping spot that resembled a ramp. I told the homies that we needed to clean that spot up and add concrete. We asked the community for donations of cement and began building. We were up at six o’clock every day. None of us knew what the hell we were doing, but we eventually got there through advice and research.
Are you building or have you built any DIY spots with the community of skaters there, and how many skaters are there in the community?
When I started, there were about 20 skaters out of 1.27 million population… So you already knew who to expect from hearing that distinctive sound of a board rolling down the road. Now, there are so many kids skating that we barely recognize each other!
Have you had any help from the skate NGO’s in Europe that have been involved in some skatepark projects around Africa? Skate-Aid, Skateistan, etc…
Skateistan helped build a skatepark at an all-girls school in Johannesburg. This also contributed significantly to the recent surge in female skaters; now there are many more.
Have you ever heard of Confusion magazine?
Only recently, I really dig the mag.
Are there any skate shops in Soweto? Or where do the skaters get their trucks, decks, and wheels?
One of my best homies used to run the first-ever skateshop in town before he passed on. His nickname was God, ha ha! God bless his soul.
Can you tell us about your band, Twenty One Children?
I started it with my lil’ homey Abdula. We are generations apart, but he is a partner in crime. I am the chief composer and songwriter.
How did you get into Punk? What bands were your earliest influences? What bands have you seen live from outside of Africa?
I didn’t get into punk; it got into me. It was just a wrong turn of the FM dial when I stumbled upon that distorted guitar noise. I was hooked ever since. I’ve watched hella bands… Everytime I Die, Alkaline Trio, Fulci, Funeral For A Friend, Dune Rats, Cloudsurfers, Bad Shit… a lot of bands come down here.
What do you see as the connection between music and skateboarding? What more does punk have to offer you than does hip hop, or trap, reggaeton, or pop?
Punk and skateboarding are one and the same to me. The pushing foot is the strumming hand, and the flipping foot is the fretting hand. The more thrashier the sound, the faster you roll.
Besides skateboarding and music, what’s life like in Soweto? What do you do for fun when not skateboarding or playing music?
Soweto is Hood number 1 in South Africa. It’s the mecca of street food—the most vibrant place of all. Everything new starts here. I am an indoors dude, so I mainly hang with my lady and my extended family of bros at the family tavern. I am straight edge, but I dig hanging with my drinking bros.
Where do you see the skateboard scene in Soweto five years from now?
These young skate kids are insane. They are soooo skilled on the board. I foresaw a lot of skate careers, on and off the board.
What do you think about corporate non-skate companies giving financial support for projects in return for having their logos on your creations?
I am not that much of a pure-ist man. Any help is great help. Let the kids go skating.
Have any skateboard companies sent you any product or support?
Vans had my back a couple of times. That’s about it.
Are there local skateboard brands, even clothing companies, if not hardware?
There are plenty of local board companies that are active right now. Apparel as well. We just need trucks, bearings, wheels, and some shoe companies.
What are some other punk bands or your favorite bands from your area?
It’s mostly psych rock, indie, and ska down here. Mostly metal. Some kids are slowly getting into punk now, so let’s see what the next five years have in store.
Can you tell us about the Afropunk festivals in Johannesburg?
It was dope, had a lot of fun playing it. Got to see a lot of international acts as well, and that was dope. A lot of people come out for those festivals, and it shows you how many open-minded people actually live down here.
Have you ever been interested in Zamrock (a genre of music that emerged in Zambia in the 1970s/a fusion of traditional African music and psychedelic rock/garage rock/hard rock) or Zimbabwean rock?
I’ve heard about them, but I didn’t have access. I’ll look it up after this interview.
What plans do you have for the future of building skateparks and skate spots in and around Soweto?
We want to build our own skatepark, live music venue/hangout. Hopefully, within the next two years. We’ll see what the future holds.
and turned it into a legendary skate spot. We call it Senior Ditch…
There’s a smaller ditch, too, around the same area called Junior Ditch.
Photo: Karabo Mooki
Do you have any possibilities lined up for the near future to tour outside South Africa (or within) with your band, Twenty One Children?
Hopefully, Africa this year, and other continents next year.
If you could have a skate park company or DIY skate build organisation help expand or build a new skatepark with you in Soweto, which company would you want to come help build and design with you?
The Maloof and Street League guys are building some pretty dope parks. The Kasso dudes from Japan are also pretty creative.
Check out Thulasizwe Nkosi‘s band TWENTY ONE CHILDREN at the links below:
TWENTY ONE CHILDREN “S/T” EP pre-order link
