{"id":175077,"date":"2019-08-21T13:10:56","date_gmt":"2019-08-21T13:10:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=175077"},"modified":"2019-08-21T13:10:56","modified_gmt":"2019-08-21T13:10:56","slug":"the-nigerian-bmx-craze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2019\/08\/21\/the-nigerian-bmx-craze\/","title":{"rendered":"The Nigerian BMX Craze"},"content":{"rendered":"

BMX Bandits was an Australian movie that showed teenagers tearing about Sydney on their bikes while Nicole Kidman launched her film career. You can see why it made an impression on a young boy. And the idea that you can achieve anything on a BMX is an idea that still resonates today.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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It started with Starboy BMX<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For about 4 years, Matthew Temitope Solomon has been getting serious about his life on two wheels. Known by the street-name of Starboy BMX, Solomon has blazed a trail in Nigeria, dominating the cycling culture and capturing the imagination of his peers.<\/p>\n<\/lite-youtube>\n

You can tell Starboy BMX and his crew are the real deal \u2013 they spend just as much time showing off their beautifully cared-for bikes as they do their hard-learned tricks. There\u2019s an effortless joy to these videos and a real celebration of BMX culture.<\/p>\n

Cult Crew Nigeria<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Nigerian craze is getting a lot of traction around Nigeria\u2019s most populated sea-port, Lagos, and that\u2019s where the hottest new crews are coalescing. Rich in imports, it\u2019s perhaps no surprise that the Lagos youth are able to keep up appearances and express a very cosmopolitan style.<\/p>\n<\/lite-youtube>\n

Social media goldrush<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Starboy BMX is much more than just a BMX lover \u2013 he\u2019s bringing Nigeria into the 2020s with his social media presence and is quickly becoming one of the leading lights of Nigeria\u2019s growing army of Instagrammers.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BzgaFg_HO3k\/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet<\/p>\n

Other crews and individuals are getting in on the action with missions of their own, by the promotion of #ridebmxafrica and a gofundme<\/a> where you can support Che in his efforts to help tell the story of BMX riding in Africa. If you want to see the talent you\u2019ll be supporting, check this out.<\/p>\n<\/lite-youtube>\n

Big news but more is coming<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Talent always attracts sponsors and Nigeria is beginning to see the likes of Red Bull take interest in their scene. More importantly, the Nigerian BMX craze is attracting the attention of worldwide media outlets like the BBC that recently ran this video via their twitter feed.<\/p>\n

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"If you love something, try and show the world that you love that thing." <\/p>\n

Meet the Lagos BMX crew grabbing the sport by both hands – and sometimes, no hands! \ud83e\udd17\ud83d\udeb2 pic.twitter.com\/V07PRo9pYV<\/a><\/p>\n

— BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) February 6, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n