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

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A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture
Directed by David Mesfin
Produced by
Written by David Mesfin
Music by Ina Meredi Arakelian, Malte Hagemeister, Kristian Nord
Cinematography David Mesfin
Edited by Byron Iggs, Teferi Seifu
Production
company
Release dates
 February 12, 2023 (United States)
Running time
 1 hour 20 minutes
Country United States
Language English, Portuguese, Spanish, French

Wade in the Water: A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture is a documentary film Created by David Mesfin, an award-winning creative director and multidisciplinary designer, Wade in the Water project includes a full-length documentary paired with a series of limited-edition fine art portrait prints and NFTs. [1]

Mesfin’s inspiration came in the wake of the global movement for racial justice in the U.S. and beyond following the series of hate crimes in 2020, including the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minnesota. Channeling his creative energy into something that he envisioned would give back to his community, he started Wade in the Water: A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture. Breaking barriers in the world of film, Mesfin positions Wade in the Water to honor the historical and contemporary relationship between Black people and the ocean, and explore the undying, intergenerational energy of Black waterwomen and watermen. The ultimate intention of the project is to inspire and support the next generation of Black surfers, specifically Black youth, by connecting them to the powerful roots of Black surfing’s legacy.[2][3]


Synopsis

Wade in the Water: A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture reclaims the 1,000-year-old tradition of Black surfing. Honoring the historical and contemporary relationship between Black people and the ocean, Mesfin explores the undying, intergenerational energy of Black water women and watermen. [4]

Breaking barriers in the world of film, the ultimate intention of the project is to inspire and support the next generation of Black surfers by connecting them to the powerful, dynamic, and resilient roots of Black surfing’s legacy.[5]


Production and film

Wade in the Water: A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture, The Documentary (2022) 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.[6]

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.[7]

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, a Black surfing advocate, Sharon Schaffer, the first African American pro-woman surfer, Tony Corley, founder of the Black Surfing Association in 1975, Greg Rachal, 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.[8]

In addition, the documentary features insights from Selema Masekela, an American television host, sports commentator, actor, singer, and surfer. Introducing 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.[9][10]

Fine Art portrait Prints and NFTs

15 portraits of activists, pioneers, and future leaders in SoCal’s intergenerational BIPOC surf community are featured in the film, overlaid with leaves of the African Fern Pine (Afrocarpus gracilior). Each NFT includes a cover of the song "Wade in the Water" by Reggae artist Luciano, Sahfilli Matturi (Founder of Sofly Surf School), and Sierra Raequel. The NFTs are available on Vast.app, an eco-friendly marketplace.[11][12]

External Links

Reference

  1. ↑ "New documentary examines the history of Black surfing, aquatic culture" (in en-US). 2023-10-17. https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/community/our-community/new-documentary-examines-the-history-of-black-surfing-aquatic-culture/509-bcb09cc3-edd9-4410-a52e-fa14bf59d5b2. 
  2. ↑ Staff (2024-02-14). "Local featured in award-winning film on the history of black surfing" (in en-US). https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/local-featured-in-award-winning-film-on-the-history-of-black-surfing/188375/. 
  3. ↑ "Wade in the Water: A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture" (in en). https://www.documentary.org/project/wade-water-journey-black-surfing-and-aquatic-culture. 
  4. ↑ "SBIFF 23 Uncovered surprise | Wade in the Water" (in en). 2023-02-12. https://www.filmfestivals.com/blog/santa_barbara/sbiff_23_uncovered_surprise_wade_in_the_water. 
  5. ↑ "Black surfers are recapturing a stolen legacy" (in en-gb). 2023-05-06. https://lastandardnewspaper.com/index.php/sports/1083-black-surfers-are-recapturing-a-stolen-legacy.html. 
  6. ↑ Davidson, Douglas (2023-02-12). "David Mesfin’s documentary “Wade in the Water” inspires audiences to dive deep into the lesser known history of African aquatic culture. [Santa Barbara International Film Festival"] (in en-US). https://elementsofmadness.com/2023/02/12/witw-doc/. 
  7. ↑ "We Are Royale Provides Opening Titles for Black Surfing Doc ‘Wade in the Water' | LBBOnline" (in en). https://lbbonline.com/news/we-are-royale-provides-opening-titles-for-black-surfing-doc-wade-in-the-water. 
  8. ↑ "Wade in the water - A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture" (in en). https://mamiwatasurf.com/blogs/afrosurf/wade-in-the-water. 
  9. ↑ "WAR Creates Titles for ‘Wade in the Water: A Journey Into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture’" (in en). https://www.awn.com/news/war-creates-titles-wade-water-journey-black-surfing-and-aquatic-culture. 
  10. ↑ "Wade in the Water, a Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture" (in en). https://www.kcbx.org/community-calendar/event/wade-in-the-water-a-journey-into-black-surfing-and-aquatic-culture-23-08-2023-15-11-05. 
  11. ↑ "We Are Royale Makes a Splash with ‘Wade in the Water’ Intro Inspired by African Myth and Basquiat". https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/02/we-are-royale-makes-a-splash-with-wade-in-the-water-intro-inspired-by-african-myth-and-basquiat/. 
  12. ↑ "“Wade in the Water” Tells the History of Black Surfers". https://lasentinel.net/wade-in-the-water-tells-the-history-of-black-surfers.html. 
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