SNS meets Bubakary Sonko

Founder of Natur-Natur

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Sportswear and outdoor activities have always been closely intertwined. Whether it’s a classic running sneaker turned into a rugged adventure shoe or a full line dedicated to exploring nature, much has happened since the ‘70s,‘80s and ‘90s. adidas Terrex, born out of adidas Outdoors, has an almost 50 year long history of conquering trails, where sustainability and techy features are main ingredients for the success of the adidas line. With the rise of gorp and a quality-first approach, let’s take a closer look at adidas Terrex and everything it brings to the table for urban explores and core trail hikers alike. And what better way to give Terrex a wear test then with Natur-Natur founder and social pedagogue Bubakary Sonko in the Swedish outskirts. Check out the interview with the chairman of the board at Fisksätra Folkets Hus and explore adidas Terrex.

adidas Terrex ->

SNS : Tell us a little bit about yourself

Bubakary : My name is Bubakary Sonko, I’m a social pedagogue specialised in working with children that have special pedagogical needs. I’ve been doing that for the past few years while also being chairman of the board at Fisksätra Folkets Hus, a local organisation and public space where we work to provide space for communal needs, education and recreation. And lastly, on a more private note, I’m also the father of two Daughters – Njima and Oumie.

SNS : Tell us about Natur-Natur

Bubakary : Natur-Natur (Nature-Nature) came to life almost two years ago, during Covid, and was essentially a way for me to foster closer relationship to the outdoors. Looking back at where I grew up and at the people I had around me, there were very few who felt that the outdoors and the lifestyle attached to it was accessible to them. Which, when you think about it, is kind of crazy seeing to the how close we live to an abundance of outdoor spaces. But the core insight, which led to the inception of Natur-Natur, is that there is a clear generational aspect to it; statistics show that children of immigrant parents have lower exposure to the outdoors, something that is then passed on to the next generation. So with that understanding Natur-Natur became my way of trying to break that negative generational spiral.

SNS : How has your relationship to the outdoors evolved during the past years?

Bubakary : It’s been a total revelation on so many levels; from the calm it induces; the way I relate and respond to the climate crisis; to the way I spend time with my family. But the most prominent feeling the growing entitlement in understanding that the outdoors is one of the most democratic places that we have and that the threshold to experiencing it is so low once you start exploring it. I want to give more people that feeling, especially young people.

SNS : What has it meant to embark on this journey together with your children?

Bubakary : It’s been so satisfying to see how they enjoy spending time in the outdoors and how much it spurs their curiosity and creativity. To be honest, it’s oftentimes the kids that give me new perspectives and nudge me to look closer at things that I previously wouldn’t appreciate or even care for. You could say that the negative generational spiral has turned into a virtuous cycle.

SNS : What is the long-term vision?

Bubakary : To be honest I’m not trying to approach this like a business or something that needs to grow exponentially. At the moment It’s an initiative for the members of Fisksätra Folkets Hus that is growing organically, which I’m very happy with. But looking outwards I see the things that Flock Together and Athena are doing in the UK and what Outsiders are doing here in Stockholm. Maybe some day soon Natur-Natur can be the family version of that.