JBay Premiere of Wade in the Water

ABOUT

The surfing community of JBay is invited to attend a free screening of this powerful documentary film that seeks to break down racial boundaries through the healing power of surfing.

Join Wade in the Water Executive Director Beyin Abraha, CJay from Wave Point HUB and Spike from Wavescape Surf and Ocean Festival, who will host this important documentary about the origins of black surfing and aquatic culture that started 1,000 years or more in Africa. 

Director David Mesfin, an award-winning creative director and multidisciplinary designer from California, made Wade in the Water driven by a call for positive change following a spate of tragic events in 2020, including the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Mesfin, who traces his roots to Ethiopia and the surf culture of St Augustine in Florida, says that the documentary aims to uplift communities and foster inclusivity and healing.

The path of the film has already taken Mesfin and Abraha, who also boasts Ethiopian ancestry, to Europe and South Africa, where they partner with youth upliftment organisations. In Cape Town, these where the 9 Miles Project, Sentinel Ocean Alliance and the Little Optimist Trust. Through screenings and panel discussions, they have found that surfing is a unique central thread to break down rather than create boundaries, where we find common ground while immersed in the rhythms of the ocean and the beauty of nature.

Abraha said they were grateful for the support they had received in South Africa, saying that it was “a huge milestone for us”. He said that he appreciated that some of the nuances of racial dynamics in America and South Africa were different, but as you will see in the film, there are strong parallels to the road that South Africa has travelled. 

The film is intended to help dismantle racial barriers within surf culture, and for Jeffrey's Bay, this is a unique opportunity to use the healing power of the film to assist in building an inclusive sense of community amongst black and white surfers. 

“While it is difficult to weave the entire experience into a one hour feature film about surf culture, our goal is really to inspire conversation as a vehicle for people to connect with each other," Abraha said.

To add some local stoke to the evening, we will also be screening the short biographical film Everything to Me with Joshe Faulkner.

We can’t wait to meet and share these films with you on Thursday 6 June at the Wave Point hub in Jeffrey's Bay.

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IMPORTANT: Even though tickets are free, to avoid disappointment, we request that you PLEASE get a free ticket as a way to RSVP so that we can cater for numbers.

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RUN OF SHOW

Doors open 6:30pm

Message from the organisers 6:45pm

Films start 7:00pm

Everything to me (10min)

Wade in the Water (63min)

Discussion with filmmaker, Wave Point Hub and local surfers 8:15pm. Speakers to be announced.

Raffle prizes to be announced 8:45pm

Event finishes 9pm

Stay tuned for cool raffle prizes that will launch soon.

DIRECTIONS