ABOUT WADE IN THE WATER PROJECT

Wade in the Water began in the wake of the 2020 racial justice movement, when director David Mesfin set out to uncover a history that had been left out of the story of surfing altogether: the

1,000-year-old tradition of African and Black surf culture. What started as a single film has grown into a documentary series and creative collaboration dedicated to preserving and celebrating that legacy.

Poster for the documentary "Wade in the Water" featuring a woman surfing and another woman standing waist-deep in water, with large cut-out letters spelling "Wade in the Water" revealing scenes of water and surfing.

Wade in the Water: A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture PART I

Feature Documentary Film

Wade in the Water: The Documentary (2024) uncovers the overlooked 1,000-year history of Africa's surf tradition, tracing its roots from Senegal and Angola to the modern BIPOC surfing movement. Through a rich blend of archival footage, recreations, and expert interviews, the film chronicles the resilient evolution of African aquatic culture.

Guided by historians like Prof. Kevin Dawson and Dr. Alison Rose Jefferson, the documentary explores the struggles of early African American surfers in Jim Crow-era Santa Monica and honors the legacy of pioneers like Nick GabaldĂłn, Southern California's first documented Black and Latino surfer.

Featuring insights from modern advocates and legends—including Sharon Schaffer, Selema Masekela, and the founders of the Black Surfing Association—the film celebrates the community leaders preserving this spiritual tradition. Today, these pioneers continue to honor their heritage by forging accessible pathways for BIPOC surfers, championing women's surf clubs, and advocating for environmental stewardship.

WATCH NOW

Wade in the Water: BLACK AQUATIC HERITAGE PART II

Feature Documentary Film - COMING 2027

Wade in the Water: Part II takes us around the world to explore Black people’s deep connection to water. From West Africa to the Caribbean, the U.S., South America, and beyond, the film follows how these ties were broken—and how they’re now being reclaimed.

We meet surfers, divers, scientists, historians, and healers who are bringing these stories to the surface. For generations, beaches and pools were places of exclusion and trauma. Today, those same waters are becoming spaces for healing, joy, and resistance.

This film is about more than just surfing. It’s about power, identity, and the right to belong. It’s about how water—once used to control or divide—is now being used to rebuild, reconnect, and rise.

Wade in the Water: Part II isn’t just a film. It’s a movement.

SUPPORT PART II
  • Kevin Dawson is Associate Professor of History at the University of California, Merced. Featured in Wade in the Water Documentary

    Professor Kevin Dawson Ph. D. - Historian

  • Rick Blocker historian and Black surf advocate. Wade in the Water Documentary

    Rick Blocker - Black Surfing Activist & Historian

  • Black Surfers Collective Marie and Greg Rachal featured in Wade in the Water Documentary

    The Rachal Family - Black Surfers Collective

  • Alison Rose Jefferson is an independent historian and heritage conservation consultant. Featured in Wade in the Water Documentary

    Alison Rose Jefferson, M.H.C. | Ph.D. - Historian & Author

  • Marialidia Marcotulli founder of WithitGirl and producer Wade in the Water Documentary part II

    Marialidia Marcotulli - PRODUCER

  • Beyin Abraha executive producer of Wade in the Water Documentary

    BEYIN ABRAHA - EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

  • Ana Gallego - Producer

  • A woman smiling in a large sunhat.

    RIAN RHOE - Publicists

  • Two men standing outdoors, one wearing a patterned short-sleeve shirt and the other in a black t-shirt with sunglasses, with several people and cars in the background.

    Wondwossen Dikran - Producer

  • Black and white photo of a young woman with braided hair, smiling, wearing a hoop earring shaped like a rain cloud.

    Samra Seifu - Writer

  • Will Higginbotham - JOURNALIST

  • Xahil McDonald copywrite on Wade in the Water Documentary

    Xahil McDonald - Writer

  • A man and woman taking a selfie outdoors near a body of water with boats and a rocky island in the background.

    Michael Warner - Producer

  • Black and white portrait of a young man wearing glasses, a baseball cap, and a hooded sweatshirt, looking at the camera.

    Bemnet Yemesgen - Producer

  • Five people standing together in an art gallery, smiling at the camera, with framed artwork on the wall behind them.

    Alitash Kebede - Art Agent

  • A black and white portrait of a man with glasses, short hair, and a beard, wearing a blazer and a checkered shirt.

    Eric Schnabel - Marketing Executive