A new kid on the block skates on board

Roots of the Movement During the late 1990s and early 2000s, skateboarding in Botswana largely operated on the fringes of mainstream sport. Early enthusiasts honed their skills on makeshift ramps and half-pipes at venues such as Molapo Crossing in Gaborone, drawing inspiration from international skateboarding culture, video games, and apparel brands.

Amongst the pioneers who helped shape the movement were brothers Thabiso and Biko Gulubane. As chairperson of the Botswana Skateboard Association, Thabiso became one of the sport's foremost custodians, spearheading grassroots competitions such as Heat The Street and Bots Five-Oh, a tournament staged as part of Botswana's BOT50 celebrations in 2016.