Commentator, Journalist & Emmy-Nominated Producer
Selema Masekela: Biography at a Glance
- Selema Masekela, aptly known as the "face and voice of action sports,” is a beloved host, journalist, entrepreneur, musician, activist, and Emmy-nominated producer best known for his work across NBC, BIVE, E!, ESPN, National Geographic and beyond.
- Selema is also well known for hosting the Summer and Winter X Games as well as serving as a correspondent for the Winter and Summer Olympics.
- He is often considered an action sports evangelist with a mission to make the world of action sports a diverse and inclusive place for all.
- Selema is an Executive Board Member at Burton, leading their Culture Shifters program to help influence diversity in snowboarding, and also serves as a brand ambassador, consultant, and host for Red Bull.
- Outside of his front-of-camera work, Selema thrives as a film and television producer and musician, recording under the alias 'Alekesam' (Masekela backwards).
- He is the co-founder of Stoked Mentoring, an organization dedicated to mentoring at-risk youth through action sports.
Media
- Podcast: What Shapes Us
- Outside: The Unlikely Preacher of Action Sports
- Snowboarder: One of Snowboarding's Most Vital Voices Shares His Unique and Compe...
- Shop Eat Surf: Burton Adds Selema Masekela to its Board of Directors
- Forbes: Selema Masekela On X Games’ Past, Its Present, And His Journey Back Afte...
- NY Times: Black Surfers Reclaim Their Place on the Waves
Videos
Biography
Selema Masekela, aptly known as the "face and voice of action sports,” is a beloved host, journalist, entrepreneur, musician, activist, and Emmy-nominated producer best known for his work across NBC, BIVE, E!, ESPN, National Geographic and beyond. With decades of action sports journalism and mentorship under his belt, Masekela is often considered an action sports evangelist. Selema's mission is to make the world of action sports a diverse and inclusive place for all.
Selema is an Executive Board Member at Burton, leading their Culture Shifters trip each year, curating talent like ASAP Ferg and beyond to help influence diversity in snowboarding culture. He also serves as a brand ambassador, consultant, and host for Red Bull, influencing their executive leadership team, hosting events, like the Red Bull Signature Series, and curating cultural programming like Mosaic Sessions.
Selema is well known for hosting the Summer and Winter X Games as well as serving as a correspondent for the Winter and Summer Olympics. He can also be heard hosting the Webby award-winning podcast All Music is Black Music and his podcast What Shapes Us?
A native of New York, Selema's flair for entertainment emerged at an early age as he toured the world with his father, human rights activist and South African jazz icon Hugh Masekela. Selema’s own band, Alekesam, shares the name of his first film which chronicles his relationship with his father and their connection through music, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2012. Alekesam’s music has been featured on Entourage and House of Lies, with their single, All Is Forgiven, featured on the season four premiere of the Showtime hit.
Selema co-founded Stoked Mentoring, an organization dedicated to mentoring at-risk youth through action sports. An avid fitness & action sports enthusiast himself, you can often find him surfing, snowboarding, working out, or skating.
Topics
What Shapes Us?
Selema Masekela has broken the mold time and time again. After overcoming racial stereotypes in surfing and action sports, Masekela became the face of the X Games. Even then, he never let others put him in a box. A beloved host, journalist, entrepreneur, musician, activist, and Emmy-nominated producer, Selema is a relentlessly curious narrator of the human experience.
In this conversation, he takes audiences on a journey through personal anecdotes from his own life and in-depth, conversational exchanges with a wide landscape of dynamic and interesting individuals. With his unique flair and infectious energy, he shares his thoughts on the always-evolving question: What shapes us?
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FAQs
How do I book Selema Masekela for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Selema Masekela to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Selema Masekela's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Selema Masekela’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Selema Masekela in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Selema Masekela's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Selema Masekela's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Selema Masekela, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Selema Masekela's speaking fee?
Selema Masekela's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Selema Masekela's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Selema Masekela's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Selema Masekela as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Selema Masekela as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Selema Masekela's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Selema Masekela's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Selema Masekela for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Selema Masekela speaking engagements.
Official contact for Selema Masekela bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/selema-masekela
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Selema Masekela.
Is Selema Masekela available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Selema Masekela speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Selema Masekela's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Selema Masekela's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Selema Masekela's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Selema Masekela for?
Book Selema Masekela for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Selema Masekela customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Selema Masekela engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Selema Masekela can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Selema Masekela booking information and availability
Check Selema Masekela's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Selema Masekela for your preferred event date.
Book Selema Masekela keynote speaker through CAA
Book Selema Masekela through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Selema Masekela, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Selema Masekela's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Selema Masekela for your next event.
Will Selema Masekela speak at private events?
Yes, Selema Masekela speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Selema Masekela's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Selema Masekela?
CAA Speakers responds to Selema Masekela booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Selema Masekela?
Book Selema Masekela 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Selema Masekela pricing information?
Get Selema Masekela pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.