Small-Scale Surfing Programs Aim to Teach Ivorian Children to Swim and Surf

Souleymane Sidibé taught a free surfing class to children at Badro Beach in Assouindé on April 8, 2026. The lesson formed part of the work of Souley Surf School, a nonprofit he runs that provides donated boards and instruction at no cost. Rokia, a teenager from Assouindé, began lessons with Mr.

Sidibé a year and a half earlier after approaching him to learn the sport. She now surfs several times a week. She previously stayed out of the water because of stories about strong currents and the water spirit Mami Wata.

Côte d’Ivoire has nearly 300 miles of coastline, yet the World Health Organization recorded about 1,800 drownings in 2021. Surf Côte d’Ivoire, founded in 2022 by Mr. Sidibé and Nadi Saddy, teaches children to swim before they surf and offers free lunches each Wednesday after practice.

Boards used by the students come from the Swiss-German nonprofit Provide the Slide. The only domestic manufacturer, The West Factory, produces 50 to 60 boards a year, so most equipment is imported. The Africa Surf Tour took place for the first time in Côte d’Ivoire in Assinie in February 2026 under the African Surf Confederation.

The Côte d’Ivoire Surf Open followed in Assinie in March and drew athletes from seven African countries. Nadi Saddy released the documentary “The Rising Dawn” on May 7, 2026, documenting the growth of the local scene. ” Mr.

Saddy said the organization shows students that surfing “can help them earn a living” through teaching or competition travel. Alexis Claustres, a French visitor, noted that on a recent session only four surfers shared the water, a contrast to crowded European breaks. Badro Escobar, who operates a hotel in Assouindé, said the younger generation is altering long-standing attitudes toward the sea.