Wade in the Water: A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture
Legal Representative
Wade in the Water: The Documentary (2023) examines the often overlooked history of Africa’s 1,000-year-old surf tradition spanning from Senegal to Angola. Piloted by historical experts and community leaders in the BIPOC surfing movement, this cinematic film traverses historical footage and recreations, photography, original illustrations, live-action footage, and interviews. Ushered by the compelling narration voiceover, we begin our journey with Prof. Kevin Dawson from UC Merced as he chronicles the evolution of aquatic African culture from the first written account of surfing in the 1640s to the American context of the 1800s. Moving into the 1900s, we proceed to honor the lives, legacies, and struggles of Santa Monica’s pioneering African American surfers with independent historian and heritage conservationist Alison Rose Jefferson, M.H.C. | Ph.D. Jefferson provides us with an in-depth historical context of the first African Americans to arrive in Santa Monica as well as their encounters with the Jim Crow laws that legalized and enforced racial segregation in California’s coastal cities. We then sit down with Rick Blocker Black surfing advocate, Sharon Schaffer first African American pro woman surfer, Tony Corley founder of Black Surfing Association in 1975, Greg Rachel, co-founder of Black Surfers Collective, and Vicky Williams who surfed with Nicolás Rolando Gabaldón in 1950: Nick was the first documented Black and Latino surfer in Southern California. In addition, the documentary features insights from Selema Masekela, an American television host, sports commentator, actor, singer, surfer and co-owner of a Mami Wata store. They introduce us to the pioneers of the past and present generations that have maintained this 1,000-year-old African surf tradition and its spiritual principles. These community leaders are establishing accessible pathways for BIPOC to participate in surfing, women’s surf clubs, and public policy that promotes environmental stewardship and protection.
This is a rough cut edit of the full documentary. We will have a new version of the cut with voiceover that will help connect the stories, an original score, mix, and new color grading. The following companies are coming on board to help enhance the project: Company 3 for coloring, California Music, and We Are Royal for VFX.
  • Writer (1 Credit)
    Wade in the Water: A journey into Black surfing and Aquatic Culture2023
    Documentary
  • Director (1 Credit)
    Wade in the Water: A journey into Black surfing and Aquatic Culture2023
    Documentary
Best Culture Documentary
Wade in the Water: A journey into Black surfing and Aquatic Culture
Mannheim Arts and Film Festival
Mannheim
2023
Quarantine Film
Wade in the Water: A journey into Black surfing and Aquatic Culture
Sofia Art Film Award
Sofia
2023
College
California State University of Long Beach
Advertising and Design BFA
19961991
Birth Date
March 25, 1973
Birth City
Addis Ababa
Current City
Long Beach
Gender
Male
Ethnicity
African American
Eye Color
Brown
Married To
Hawani Negussie
Children
2
Failure is the secret to success.
Wade in the Water: A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture
Legal Representative
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