Motokuchi Zawawa: whats your name?
Nikolas Spaulding: Nikolashanti Spaulding Spauldingo
Motokuchi Zawawa: what do you do for a living?
Nikolas Spaulding: Vegetarian Chef/ Skateshop owner
Motokuchi Zawawa: whats the name of your skateshop?Nikolas Spaulding: Ujamaa Boardhouse in Dirty Durham N.C.
Motokuchi Zawawa: why isnt it open right now?
Nikolas Spaulding: our previous shop got flooded and they condemned the building. Been waiting on the renovations to get finished at our up and coming spot located in the Motorco building about 2 blocks from the Durham skatepark. Shooting for late Feb early March to reopen.
Motokuchi Zawawa: what does ujamaa mean?
Nikolas Spaulding: Swahili for Cooperative Economics. Basically support your own and support what you're about. In our case support skater owned shops and companies
Motokuchi Zawawa: how long has ujamaa been around?
Nikolas Spaulding: 4 1/2 years
its been a beautiful struggle
Motokuchi Zawawa: what made you want a shop?
Nikolas Spaulding: I always wanted one, but moving to Durham and getting behind the building of the Durham skatepark made it come to lite, being that there were no skateshops in Durham. Came into a little cash (far less than what I needed to do the shop right) just gave it a shot. Its been awesome meeting new people and working with the community through the shop
Motokuchi Zawawa: whats up with the dreads?
Nikolas Spaulding: Its just me. Free and all naturale. Ancient hairstyle. No vanity here sorry.
Motokuchi Zawawa: lil waynes got dreads.
Nikolas Spaulding: hahhaha true! thats what it means to me. cant vouch for lil weezy. I'm getting up there in age and I've seen it come and go in the fads. Its funny when kids come up to me and say I want DREADS and I say "why?" "I dont know I think there cool!" Whatever floats your boat. Little bit more spiritual significance for me.Motokuchi Zawawa: why did you start skating?
Nikolas Spaulding: Freedom
problem eraser at least while I'm skating
Motokuchi Zawawa: who inspired you?
Nikolas Spaulding: its pretty cliche. The Gonz. A slew of other cats too Ray Barbee, Natas, Tommy G, all the old Dogtown venice skaters like Scott Oster, Eric Dressen and them boyz. But for the most park it was Mark Gonzales.
Motokuchi Zawawa: how long have you been skating?
Nikolas Spaulding: 27 years
Damn I'm old
Motokuchi Zawawa: hows your kickflip?
Nikolas Spaulding: bangin!! first trick i do everyday!!!
Im not a freestyler. Im a bonified slasher!!
Motokuchi Zawawa: what kind of product would someone see in ujamaa?
Nikolas Spaulding: when times are good we try to carry hard core companies that arent in every other page in a skate 'zine. Although you have to carry the mainstream companies, we try to keep it pretty diverse. Decks are pretty trendy so we try to keep our ear to the streets on what the stick of the week is. Footwear, hardware, softgoods and accesories. We try and support local brands as much we can
Nikolas Spaulding: Always give thanks to the Most High! My wife, Mom, Dad, my inlaws, Killa Cam, the whole Durham crew massive!!! If you're in the area come check us out! Peace...
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