Nonprofit · Founded in 2022
Founded in 2022 by Nadi Saddy & Souleymane Sidibé, Surf Côte d’Ivoire is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to promoting and developing surf culture in Côte d’Ivoire.
Where it began
The adventure began with a documentary, The Rising Dawn, which revealed an unsuspected potential: waves of exceptional quality line the Ivorian coast, but local communities lack the means and structures to reach the sport.
From that came an ambition: to make surfing a lever for human, economic and cultural development, and to open new perspectives for Ivorian youth.
Flagship projects
The Surf Côte d’Ivoire journey began with the production of The Rising Dawn. Inspired by the untapped potential of the country’s exceptional waves, it was made with a simple ambition: to make surfing a catalyst for human, economic, and cultural development while creating new opportunities for Ivorian youth.
Discover the film
The first women’s surf club in Côte d’Ivoire, providing young girls with a space to discover themselves, challenge their limits, and grow together. Through supervised surf sessions, educational workshops, and community activities, it has become a platform for sisterhood, empowerment, freedom, and transformation.
The Africa Surf Tour brings together emerging talent, encourages regional exchange, and positions Côte d’Ivoire as a key player in African surfing. Its inaugural edition, a surf and music festival in Assinie in February 2025, laid the foundation for an annual traveling event that promotes tourism, cultural exchange, and local economic development.
Through this pioneering surfboard distribution initiative, more than 200 young surfers have gained access to equipment and ongoing mentorship. The programme expands access to surfing, supports new talent, and uses surf culture as a vehicle for social inclusion and economic opportunity in coastal communities.
Impact
The Rising Dawn is the fruit of a social movement carried by Surf Côte d’Ivoire for several years. The association first laid the concrete foundations of change, with Souleymane Sidibé, the film’s protagonist, as its ambassador and the living symbol of the movement.
From that ground-level legitimacy, the association has become a real force for social emancipation, and it redefines the Ivorian cultural story by championing an emerging practice that fuses tradition and modernity.
The film also features Surf Safari: a sustainable travel experience combining untouched waves, cultural immersion and partnerships with local eco-lodges.
The film and the association have already drawn local and international media.
Partnerships, screenings, donations of boards or equipment: message us.
