Motherlan: The Future of Lagos Skateboarding

Founded in 2018, Motherlan is a Nigerian streetwear brand with roots in skateboarding. Its founders Leo, Slawn, and Onyedi, met through a shared love of skateboarding and graphic design whilst at school in Victoria Island, Lagos.

In 2019 Motherlan released its first film, titled ‘Edward’, followed in 2020 with a second film, ‘Victoria’, in collaboration with Converse.

The same year, Motherlan appeared on the cover of i-D magazine.

Here the designers tells us why Lagos is so exciting

What makes the skate scene in Lagos unique?
The skate scene in Lagos is unique cause really there's no spots or skate parks to skate so you have to be really creative with what you do, like how people see spots in other countries and they just skate it, you can't do that in Lagos, there's a lot of improvising so that's where the style comes from as wellName here

Are there any challenges that come with being a skateboarder in Nigeria?
There are a couple of challenges, skating is misunderstood in Africa. If you skate you're seen as unserious or a delinquent because everyone expects you to aspire to be a doctor or a banker or something. It’s just a piece of wood on wheels to people, but we’re gonna change that.

What are your thoughts on the current creative climate in Lagos?
The creative community in Lagos is crazy, some weird energy, very easy to misunderstand but also really easy to fall in love with. Lagos messes you up even if you don't want it to, it’s just the chaos that makes everything kind of work together, cause that's what every Lagosian can relate to. So regarding the creative scene a lot of us just put out what we feel; chaos!