TUNISIA
‘This connection is invaluable to us, as it strengthens the bonds within the North African skate community.’
BLKOT
August 2025
Can you tell us something about Tunisia no one knows?
The underground scene in Tunisia is both highly developed and tightly-knit. Despite the lack of resources, it manages to embrace various disciplines and unite artists from diverse artistic, cultural, and ideological backgrounds. Notably, it is growing exponentially, marked by cultural refinement, increased openness, and an expansion into areas and tastes that were once unimaginable.
What is the skate scene like across Tunisia?
The skate scene in Tunisia is rapidly growing, with an increasing number of young people getting involved. Tunisian skaters are passionate and creative, we often face challenges like a lack of spots, equipment, and support but we always find ways to pursue our passion. Our community is known for its impressive skill in flat tricks, primarily because there haven’t been many spots to skate, and we were always worried about breaking our boards too quickly. However, with the new skatepark, we now have a variety of styles, and skaters have become even more crazy. (laughing).
Who did built the original La Marsa skatepark?
La Marsa Skatepark, was created in 2007. This project was carried out by a group of local skaters with the support of the municipality of La Marsa.
In 2024 Make Life Skate Life transformed this park to international standard. What has changed since then?
Make Life Skate Life has transformed everything for us! We are deeply grateful to them and to everyone involved in this project. This year, Make Life Skate Life has amazed us, uplifted us, and reignited our passion. They restored our faith, especially for our generation that had begun to doubt the future of skateboarding in Tunisia. Despite our uncertainties, we kept going purely out of love for the culture, and Make Life Skate Life made our dreams come true. Many of us, regardless of our skill level, “now feel like we are truly starting to skate for real” (laughing). The skatepark they built is of international standards, covering 950 square meters and equipped with everything needed to master the basics of skateboarding. We are also thankful to everyone who joined them—Decathlon Skateboarding, Route One, and many others. Your support has been invaluable.
Who has left the biggest impact from the 16 volunteers that helped build the park?
We had an incredible number of volunteers who helped build the park, including members of The Grove DIY from London, a few members of Jean Jaques from Belgium, Houda Ait Lahcen from Morocco, members of Giraffe Crew, our friends from Tunisia, local participants, and skaters from all around the globe. It was a global effort that made everything possible! However, the person who impressed us the most was Kjell Van Hanswyck. He supervised the entire construction and had no difficulties on site. He could even communicate in Arabic with the locals, starting each day with a cheerful “Good Morning Habibi” (laughing). Honestly his dedication and ability to connect with everyone truly impressed and amazed us. He was undoubtedly the standout of the year.
Do you have any other places to skate?
Before the skatepark, we only skated street spots. Among the well-known spots in Tunisia are the famous ‘Kasbah’ spot (Place De La Kasbah, Tunis), ‘Place à El Menzah 6’ (Menzah 6, Tunis), and the ‘Lac 0 spot’ (Lac 0, Tunis), where the Go Skateboarding Day events often take place. However, since we live in Sousse, our favorite spots are the ‘Train Station spot’ (downtown Sousse), ‘Patisserie Cherif spot’ (locally known as ‘Box Khzema,’ Khzema, Sousse), and the ‘Sahloul Roundabout spot’ next to ‘Le Sportif Store’ (Sousse). We advise skating at the Sahloul Roundabout spot only at night; otherwise, you might get kicked out. (laughing).
‘It was a global effort that made everything possible! However, the person who impressed us the most was Kjell Van Hanswyck.’
How do you get skateboard decks and accessories. Is there skate shop?
It’s really tough here! We don’t have an official skate shop here, which makes finding skate gear a major challenge. When a skateboard breaks, we often have to wait for someone from abroad to bring a replacement, putting us on hold during the waiting period. Trucks and wheels are another issue; we can go years without changing them. On the bright side, our community is incredibly tight-knit. We exchange used boards with each other whenever someone gets a new one. We’re also incredibly grateful for the support of our friend Alexander Belhadj, who used to skate for Pop Trading Company. Every time he visits Tunisia, he generously helps us out and keeps our spirits high. That said, we’re reaching out for additional support as our community is in great need. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
There is another skate group in Tunisia called ‘Giraffe Crew’. What are they up to?
Giraffe Crew are close friends of ours. We usually skate together, and we’re all about shredding and taking skate culture in Tunisia to new heights. We both aim to develop the skate scene through events, filming, and documentation. Additionally, we are dedicated to teaching beginners the basics of skating, helping them build confidence and skills from the ground up. We provide hands-on guidance and support, ensuring new skaters have access to the knowledge and resources they need to thrive in the skateboarding community.
Any local talents that we should look out for?
There’s a lot of talent within our community. Anwar Jedidi, Mehdi Snoussi, Dali Rjeibi, and Achref Bettaieb play a crucial role in documenting the local scene. Thanks to their work, we have a clearer and more detailed view of the evolution of skateboarding in Tunisia. Their commitment not only captures captures the highlights of our skate culture but also inspires and motivates new skaters. They greatly contribute to the development and recognition of our community by bringing it to light and sharing its stories with the world.
Who is the godfather of Tunisia’s skateboarding community?
Malek Ben Amor and Ghazi Jebali have been key figures in pushing skateboarding forward in Tunisia, each bringing their own skills and passion to support and inspire the new generation. Their combined efforts have brought the skate scene together in Tunisia. It’s also important to recognize the contributions of Youssef Nouri, Ahmed Krichene, Amine Ayachi, Kazeed Douri, Chaker Amdouni, Aziz Rourou, Sahbi Flip, Mael Wolters and Alexander Belhadj who have all played a big role in growing the skateboarding community in the country.
Are you in touch with other North African countries to promote skateboarding?
We are in touch with Beurdies, the Moroccan skate team, with whom we occasionally share our highlights and celebrate our achievements on social media. This connection is invaluable to us, as it strengthens the bonds within the North African skate community. We are also in contact with Houda Ait Lahcen, who has played a significant role in the development of skate culture in Morocco. We are grateful for her support and influence in this North African dynamic.
What are some of the daily challenges people face in Tunisia?
We face a range of challenges daily, especially socially, given our country’s conservative nature. This environment makes it difficult to share our thoughts, concerns, and express ourselves freely. Additionally, the struggling economy is hitting our wallets pretty hard. Despite these struggles, we find hope amid the chaos. We are grateful to the resilient individuals who resist and protest against restrictions and boundaries, striving to be whoever they want to be. They pave the way for freedom of expression in all its forms.
Last question. If you could interview a person, who would it be?
We can pass the torch to the new generation of skaters in Tunisia. The talent here is exceptional, with standout individuals like Mouhib Ayechi and Amine Ksouri leading the way. We’re also seeing remarkable contributions from the freshest faces in the scene, such as Ayssem Gafsi Youssef Boulaabi, Khayem Bahri and Arslen Hajri, who are pushing the boundaries and bringing new energy to skateboarding. Their passion and skills promise a bright future for the sport in Tunisia, and we’re thrilled to see where they’ll take it next.