David Mesfin was originally born in Ethiopia and migrated to the United States at an early age. While spending his younger years in St. Augustine, Florida, he was immersed in a vibrant local surf culture that conceived his passion for the ocean and nature.   After moving to the West-Coast to receive his Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication and Advertising from California State University, Long Beach, David connected with a budding community of Black surfers that introduced him to the historical context of surfing in Africa. These formative experiences connecting his lifelong passion and ancestral roots spawned the creative inspiration and community-based collaborations that have bloomed into Wade in the Water (2022).  For more information about David’s experience in creative direction and multi-disciplinary creative, visit www.davidmesfin.com. 

DAVID MESFIN

Limited-edition portraits examine the historical context of pioneering aquatic and surfing cultures in the Black communities in America and Africa.

David Mesfin

@gregrachal was raised in Los Angeles and Inglewood, California. Currently a sophomore in college in Eugene, Oregon, he works as a surf instructor during the summers. He has been surfing since the age of 3 years. Gregory Rachal Jr. is a member of the Black Surfers Collective, an organization led in part by his father, Gregory Rachal Sr. and carries out a mission to raise cultural awareness and promote diversity to the sport of surfing through community activities, outreach and camaraderie.

The "Wade in the Water" limited-edition portrait series showcases activists, pioneers, and future leaders in Southern California's BIPOC surf community adorned with the leaves of Afrocarpus gracilior, the African Fern Pine. The leaves symbolize the ancestral roots connecting back to Africa and nature.

20% of the proceeds from art sales are pledged to five non-profit organizations. 

Utility 
• Early access to a sneak preview of the documentary

• Access to a ‘Wade in the Water’ digital zoom conference (Q3/Q4 2022) with Director David Mesfin, Executive Producer Beyin Abraha and panelists - founders for for profit and non-profit organizations of Black surfing organizations featured in the documentary 

• 3 Year subscription to exclusive content, photos and videos from the Wade in the Water channel 


Gregory Jr. Rachal // Black Surfers Collective Member 

@tonycblacksurf was born in Paso Robles, California. He was 12 years old when he first tried surfing, and his determination to master the sport led him to fall deeper in love with it. He earned his bachelor’s degree in social sciences and his Master of Art degree in education, with an emphasis in psychology, both from California Polytechnic State University. He worked as a teaching assistant, group supervisor and youth counselor at the California Youth Authority from 1968 until his retirement in 2003. Corley founded the Black Surfing Association in 1974 following a letter he wrote to SURFER Magazine advocating for black surfers to come together in support of the activity. The organization has been bringing black surfers together in celebration of waves in central and southern California for 43 years. Inspired by this work, New York’s Louis Harris started offering free surf lessons in 2016 to any kid who wanted to jump in on the east coast.

The "Wade in the Water" limited-edition portrait series showcases activists, pioneers, and future leaders in Southern California's BIPOC surf community adorned with the leaves of Afrocarpus gracilior, the African Fern Pine. The leaves symbolize the ancestral roots connecting back to Africa and nature.

20% of the proceeds from art sales are pledged to five non-profit organizations. 

Utility 
• Early access to a sneak preview of the documentary

• Access to a ‘Wade in the Water’ digital zoom conference (Q3/Q4 2022) with Director David Mesfin, Executive Producer Beyin Abraha and panelists - founders for for profit and non-profit organizations of Black surfing organizations featured in the documentary 

• 3 Year subscription to exclusive content, photos and videos from the Wade in the Water channel 


Tony Corley // Founder Black Surfing Association

@bellagmo is a 16-year resident of Santa Cruz, California. She earned her Associate degree in sociology from Cabrillo College and her Bachelor of Science degree in human resource management and business administration from San Jose State University. Formerly a recruiter for a technology company, Bonner is now a community organizer and activist. Entering the surf scene in 2020, Bonner is the founder and executive director of Black Surf Santa Cruz, an award-winning organization that promotes physical, spiritual and communal wellness and healing through surfing, recreation, education and advocacy in the local community. In 2021, Black Surf Santa Cruz was voted Best Surf School by the Santa Cruz Good Times and in 2022, the organization won Best Club in the Santa Cruz Waves annual Swellie Awards.

The "Wade in the Water" limited-edition portrait series showcases activists, pioneers, and future leaders in Southern California's BIPOC surf community adorned with the leaves of Afrocarpus gracilior, the African Fern Pine. The leaves symbolize the ancestral roots connecting back to Africa and nature.

20% of the proceeds from art sales are pledged to five non-profit organizations. 

Utility 
• Early access to a sneak preview of the documentary

• Access to a ‘Wade in the Water’ digital zoom conference (Q3/Q4 2022) with Director David Mesfin, Executive Producer Beyin Abraha and panelists - founders for for profit and non-profit organizations of Black surfing organizations featured in the documentary 

• 3 Year subscription to exclusive content, photos and videos from the Wade in the Water channel 


Esabella Bonner // Founder Black Surf Santa Cruz

@soflysurfs was born and raised in Long Beach, California. He acknowledges surfing as a way he copes with the world around him and keeps his body and mind strong. Sahfilli Matturi is the founder of Sofly Surf School, He offers free community surf lessons once a month in addition to private lessons to new and seasoned surfers. Matturi is the first surfer in the water and the last one to leave the beach. He is the head instructor and leader of the surf school squad. In addition to surfing, Matturi is a musician, proficient in syncopation, MIDI, music arranger, piano roll and sampling. He produced one of the original tracks for the “Wade in the Water” documentary. 

The "Wade in the Water" limited-edition portrait series showcases activists, pioneers, and future leaders in Southern California's BIPOC surf community adorned with the leaves of Afrocarpus gracilior, the African Fern Pine. The leaves symbolize the ancestral roots connecting back to Africa and nature.

20% of the proceeds from art sales are pledged to five non-profit organizations. 

Utility 
• Early access to a sneak preview of the documentary

•Access to a ‘Wade in the Water’ digital zoom conference (Q3/Q4 2022) with Director David Mesfin, Executive Producer Beyin Abraha and panelists - founders for for profit and non-profit organizations of Black surfing organizations featured in the documentary 

• 3 Year subscription to exclusive content, photos and videos from the Wade in the Water channel 


Sahfilli Matturi // Founder Sofly Surf School

@zizzy3 said being active is a part of her DNA. She was a 2-sport collegiate athlete that competed in volleyball professionally while living in Switzerland. When her professional career ended, she found a way to channel her energy into outdoor adventures by becoming an active travel guide. She spent 10 years guiding cycling and hiking trips in over 15 countries around the world. It was during her time working in Costa Rica that she was able to learn how to surf. Being outside and in nature is where she feels most herself, whether it’s training with Team Onyx—a multi-sport team of Black endurance athletes—or chasing waves along the California coast with Color the Water - an organization she co-founded that is dedicated to fighting racism through free surf lessons and media for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in the LA area.

The "Wade in the Water" limited-edition portrait series showcases activists, pioneers, and future leaders in Southern California's BIPOC surf community adorned with the leaves of Afrocarpus gracilior, the African Fern Pine. The leaves symbolize the ancestral roots connecting back to Africa and nature.

20% of the proceeds from art sales are pledged to five non-profit organizations. 

Utility 
• Early access to a sneak preview of the documentary

• Access to a ‘Wade in the Water’ digital zoom conference (Q3/Q4 2022) with Director David Mesfin, Executive Producer Beyin Abraha and panelists - founders for for profit and non-profit organizations of Black surfing organizations featured in the documentary 

• 3 Year subscription to exclusive content, photos and videos from the Wade in the Water channel 


Lizelle Jackson // Co-Founder Color The Water 

@Selema is a beloved commentator, journalist, host, surfer, skateboarder, co-founder of Mami Wata Surf, and Emma nominated producer best known across VICE, E!, ESPN/ABC, Nat Geo, Red Bull Media House and beyond. The son of South African jazz legend and activist Hugh Masekela, he still has very strong ties to his South African culture. He started surfing and skateboarding at the age of 8 and it’s the combination of these unique passions and experiences that paved the way for his mot only to become the face of ESPN’s X-Games but also a musician himself, recording under the alias ‘Alekesam’.

His recently launched podcast, “What Shape Us?” That explores his and his quest’s human experiences; who they are, what dives and gives them joy. It’s this mission to highlight people and places through a mold-breaking lens and redefine culture. He is the co-founder Stoked Mentoring, and organization dedicated to mentoring at-risk youth through action sports, and the host of Hyundai’s series the Un-Adventures of Tastemade Network. In 2020, Selema was also welcomed on the Board of Directors for Burton Surfboards as a general advisor. 

The "Wade in the Water" limited-edition portrait series showcases activists, pioneers, and future leaders in Southern California's BIPOC surf community adorned with the leaves of Afrocarpus gracilior, the African Fern Pine. The leaves symbolize the ancestral roots connecting back to Africa and nature.

20% of the proceeds from art sales are pledged to five non-profit organizations. 

Utility 
• Early access to a sneak preview of the documentary

• Access to a ‘Wade in the Water’ digital zoom conference (Q3/Q4 2022) with Director David Mesfin, Executive Producer Beyin Abraha and panelists - founders for for profit and non-profit organizations of Black surfing organizations featured in the documentary 

• 3 Year subscription to exclusive content, photos and videos from the Wade in the Water channel 


Selema Masekela // Co-Founder Mami Wata Surf

The Wade in the Water fine art portrait series and NFTs (Non-fungible token)celebrate the activists, pioneers, and future leaders of Southern California’’s Black surfing community adorned with the leaves of Afrocarpus gracilior, the African Fern Pine.   20% of sales are pledged to 5 non-profit surfing community organizations. 