Isn’t it odd how life creates paths for us that intertwine with the ones of strangers? It seems they meet in countless ways, sometimes entirely aligning, at other times ramming in one another. It’s like perfectly locking-in that grind versus crashing in a scooter kid appearing of thin air. For the better or the worse, these connections can have the smallest, like the biggest, impacts on our lives. Some of us see these interactions as the work of celestial beings or as mere probabilities. Perhaps it’s not as much as life’s doing as it is also our own actions and decisions. My mom would always tell me, “with a bunch of ‘if’ you could rebuild the world.” Now, if an odd set of circumstances hadn’t brought Quade Howes and Sadiq Du Toit together, we wouldn’t have been graced with the beautiful video Inshallah.
Words by Emanuele Barbier | Photo Courtesy Quade Howes
When I heard of the making of Inshallah, it instantly felt like the perfect instance of paths and odds. The inspiration initially came from Howes wanting to shoot a project in 8 mm with someone special. “I wanted to find someone who conveys a unique & authentic style,” he says. With that in mind, Howes told Sadiq Du Toit about the project when they virtually stumbled on each other.
Other than the casual ‘What’s up?’ when briefly seeing each other at skateparks, the two of them had never really interacted. “I ended up texting this number, trying to get ahold of a friend […] turns out it was Quade’s number and we started speaking from there,” said Du Toit.
Filmed in South Africa, Inshallah combines both 8mm and HD into a short part that leaves you craving more. Du Toit’s style invites playfulness and agility into the warm flow of the video. Watching it reminds me of simple, worry-free, days skateboarding with friends. It has a nice touch to it and the 8mm is an undeniable aesthetic.
Read more on skate communities in Africa
Working on the project was exciting for Du Toit who hadn’t filmed a video part before. “I was really keen and all in, ready to skate hard and have fun at the same time,” he adds. At the same time, the project’s title “Inshallah” hints this video has a special meaning for Du Toit.
When Howes was having a hard time coming up with a title, he thought of what Sadiq strongly trust, of his faith. For Du Toit this made perfect sense. “It basically embodies my life and spirit as a Muslim and a skater. My beliefs and values revolve around the basis that Allah is in control of everything and his decree is divine. From the most incredible things like the rising of the sun to the simple flipping of the board in a kickflip,” Du Toit says.
“The love and stoke for skateboarding is real in South Africa. That I can guarantee you!” – Sadiq Du Toit
We each take on different approaches to the paths of our lives and the ones they cross. Yet at the end of the day, regardless of our different values and faiths, we all find some meanings to life in skateboarding. This is particularly true in a constantly growing scene such as the one in South Africa.
As more projects come out from the SA scene, Howes looks forward to the diversity of possibilities. “The skate scene is really thriving, more skateboarders & filmmakers are getting together and creating projects,” Howes says.
A love for skateboarding Du Toit confirms, “the genuine and loving nature of the skaters is nothing shy of phenomenal. The love and stoke for skateboarding is real in South Africa. That I can guarantee you!”
