DAKAR - As a force that shapes daily life, identity, and uncertainty in Dakar, the Atlantic Ocean has become a source of escapism for friends Pape Fode and Baye Seydi – two local surf instructors reinforcing community among the city’s youth. Carrying the weight of loss from those who disappear seeking new lives overseas, Pape and Seydi have made a commitment to stay in the Senegalese capital, establishing a surf school as a space for discipline, joy, and belonging. Forging a new relationship with the ocean and the cultural wealth within easy reach, their work allows students to envisage a future rooted at home, encouraging young people away from the dangers of crossing the Mediterranean by boat. For the short documentary Nio Ko Bokk – taken from the Wolof for “what we share belongs to all of us” – director David Clancy captures the drive and optimism that connects Pape and Seydi to the ocean. Meeting while living with the Lebou fishing community in Ngor, Clancy centers the power of surfing against the vibrant energy, spiritualism, and togetherness of Dakar – exploring the friends’ quiet impact on how young people experience their city.
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