Blacktop Tales | Season 3 | Episode 4 | Moses Musana | Bisterne Ave
I was around 10 years old when a basketball coach first visited my primary school to introduce us to the game. We played outdoors on netball posts, we used sponge footballs to learn how to dribble, our teacher didn't see the problem. At the time, I lacked the language to object in a way that would be acknowledged.
It was at his primary school in Chingford where Moses Musana would also get his first taste of the game. Despite having produced major sporting talent—David Beckham and Harry Kane, to name a couple—the school was academically focused, with sports low on the agenda. For basketball, they went with the cheap option: the best freestanding budget hoops Argos had to offer. Moses, the tallest in his year group, was naturally encouraged to give it a go. Undeterred, he enjoyed the experience—and the sport transitioned with him to secondary school.
Bad facilities and poor court options became a common theme for Moses as he continued on his basketball journey. The desire to play in more suitable locations meant looking further afield.
“I think in the UK there’s just such a heavy push for football that basketball gets overlooked—especially when it comes to proper outdoor courts. You’ve got to go so far just to find a decent one. For me, the closest was probably Turnpike Lane. I'd have to jump on the 444 bus, and it takes 30 to 40 minutes to get there. That kind of distance can really put people off. I get why some parents wouldn’t want their kids travelling that far—especially if it’s to areas they’re unfamiliar with.”
Not only was Moses aware of this issue, he found himself in a position to do something about it. Since his teenage years, he had the opportunity to be part of a Youth Independent Advisory Group (a group of young people who advise police and local authorities on issues affecting youth, offering insight to help shape relevant policies and practices). He shared rooms and space with mayors and council members, even frequented the Town Hall. He led talks in schools and youth clubs, gaining invaluable experience but also insight into the deeper needs of the local community.
In 2019, Moses was approached by E4 (a subsidiary of Channel 4) who were exploring the needs in the local area. For him, this meant an opportunity to improve outdoor basketball facilities.
"They said they wanted to hear from young people about what the area needed. I mentioned I’m big into basketball and there aren’t any proper facilities nearby. We jumped on a call with the council, they suggested this spot, showed me the mock-ups, and we went from there. We worked with Wood Street Walls—just around the corner—and what they created was amazing."
"We jumped on a call with the council, they suggested this spot, showed me the mock-ups, and we went from there."
The spot that Moses is referring to is Bisterne Avenue, a generous space in a lively suburban spot in Waltham Forest, North East London. The basketball court sits between a children's playground and peaceful residential streets. Nearby, drivers of London's iconic red buses take lunch breaks while parents with prams push kids in swings. On the court, players push the rock across regulation court lines and pull up for 3. All 4 hoops have nets. Swish.
When Moses initiated the pre-Covid court renovation, he did so with a design that was far from discreet. The shades of pinks, yellows and greens were the brightest possible, and were applied to the court to create geometric patterns that danced around traditional basketball court markings. At the time, this type of court renovation had rarely been seen in the UK and has since sparked a ripple of inspiration that has dripped across a handful of courts across the city and beyond.
This appreciation of design can perhaps partly be attributed to Moses' love for sneakers and streetwear—a passion that was sparked by delving into the history of Michael Jordan:
“I remember watching the clip of Jordan hitting the game-winner over Craig Ehlo in the Jordan 4s. That moment hooked me. After that, I watched more highlights, saw all the different pairs he wore, and started diving into the history. That’s when I really got into sneakers—back when being a sneakerhead felt niche but still had a big presence.”
More than a fan, Moses is immersed and active in the sneaker world. Much like his efforts to create change in his local community in Waltham Forest, he’s built a personal relationship with Nike and is a familiar face on the sneaker scene. Whether drawing from his background in graphic design or in his role as store manager at The London Sneaker Club, Moses consistently drives engagement in the spaces he moves through. His sneaker collection is impressive (he casually rocked up to our shoot in the Jordan 1 Chicagos from 1994), but more noteworthy is the quiet mark he’s made—at just 25 years old.
While the paint job at Bisterne Avenue has long since faded, Moses Musana's impact is as bold and bright as ever. At Bisterne Avenue, Moses Musana is wearing the Jordan 4 'White Cement'. "I’ve always loved the Jordan 4—especially the White Cement, which I played in early on (2012 pair). It’s my favourite Jordan model, and I’ve collected everything from fresh releases to 20-year-old pairs falling apart".
The Jordan 4 'White Cement' is available now in store at BounceWear London and online at bouncewear.co.uk
