Segun Adosu's path to becoming a gang member seemed to be mapped out. Then he bought a bike with BMX written on the frame. "I wanted to know what that meant, so I typed the term into Google," he says, "I found tons of videos and didn't look at anything else." He now calls himself S-King and has built up quite a repertoire of flatland and street moves. "If I hadn't discovered BMX, I would probably have gone downhill. Now people no longer see me as the street gangster but as the BMX Dude."
A stage name seems to be a must if you're honing your BMX skills in Nigeria. KK Money is actually called Ibrahim and works as a teacher. During the break, he sometimes shows his uniformed students a few bunny hops. "I love passing on knowledge and experience. The lesson that BMX has taught me: If you fall off your horse, you have to get right back on and keep practicing. BMX has shown me what you can achieve with commitment."
Photographer Tyrone Bradley visited the BMX scene in Lagos and was impressed by its ingenuity: "It's a real DIY scene. Bikes and spare parts are actually only available via international mail order and are therefore practically unaffordable." The dedication of the Nigerian BMXers is all the greater: "BMX means life to them and they show it. What's more, BMX has brought together boys from the toughest slums and the upper middle class."

Learning tricks instead of building shit

The nucleus of the BMX scene in Lagos has a name: Star Boy is what he calls himself, born Matthew Temitope. The mechanic came across a few American BMX bikes from the 1980s in a store. He also used internet videos to find out what could be done with them. Today, he is the face of the Nigerian BMX scene: "Our vision is that BMX should be known throughout Nigeria. If we didn't have our BMX bikes, we'd probably build shit or get drunk all the time."
Instead, Star Boy and his crew roll through the streets. And wherever they stop because they have found an interesting obstacle, people flock to cheer them on. It is estimated that 18 million people live in Lagos. A troop of bouncing BMXers is a welcome change from everyday life. Street sports are more than just a change of pace for those who practise them. It gives them a reason to look forward to the next day, to work on themselves and to infect others with their enthusiasm. Star Boy sums it up: "When you're in a bad mood, you get on your bike, roll down the streets and do a few tricks."
BMX doesn't make life any easier in the West African juggernaut, but it does give a few people a reason to look forward to the next day.