Selema Masekela

Selema Masekela is a uniquely versatile sports commentator whose career spans everything from surfing and skateboarding to the NBA, soccer, and Formula One.

As a teenager growing up in a predominantly white beach town in Southern California, he was one of the few Black surfers in the water. That meant navigating everything from subtle bias to outright racism. While he refused to let that stop him from pursuing the sport he loved, the absence of others who looked like him left a lasting impression.

In this episode, we discuss his essay in the new book Surfer Stories, where he reflects on South African surfer Mikey February’s historic qualification for the professional tour. For Selema, the moment wasn’t just significant—it was deeply personal. His father, legendary jazz musician Hugh Masekela, was exiled from South Africa during apartheid. So seeing a Black South African competing on surfing’s biggest stage brought decades of struggle and resilience full circle.

We also discuss how someone goes from the surf break to the broadcast booth to build one of the most diverse résumés in sports media, and why curiosity has been one of his greatest strengths. Selema also shares some of his biggest on-air blunders—and what they taught him.

Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email The Plug w/ Justin Jay at: theplugpodcast.jj(AT)gmail.com

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HI 1K - 10 Years / 1000 Moments On Hawaii’s North Shore by Justin Jay:

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