Sal Masekela
Encyclopedia
Selema Mabena "Sal" Masekela (born August 28, 1971) is an American television host, sports commentator, actor, and singer.
, and the older half-brother of Survivor: Cook Islands
contestant Nathan Gonzalez. He is of South African and Haitian descent and was raised in Staten Island
, New York
and Carlsbad, California
, where he attended Carlsbad High School. Sal is the co-founder of Berkela Motion Pictures with Jason Bergh.
His career began as the receptionist/intern at Transworld Publications in 1992, home of TW Snow, TW Skateboarding and TW Surf magazines. An avid surfer, skateboarder and snowboarder, he is described by some as the face and voice of action sports. He served as a NBA sideline reporter for ESPN
during the 2003-2004 season. Sal Masekela was co-host of The Daily 10, a countdown of the day's "top 10" entertainment stories, on the E!
network until it was cancelled on Sept 27, 2010 (last show Oct 1, 2010). He is also host of both the X Games
and Winter X Games on ESPN
.
He appears in the "Green" episode of Yo Gabba Gabba singing the song "Hello World" which aired on Nick Jr. on April 22, 2009.
In 2010, he was hired by ESPN to help as a correspondent in its coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
in South Africa
. While working as a correspondent, Sal was featured, with his father, Hugh, in a series of videos on ESPN. The series, called "Umlando - Through my Father's Eyes", aired in 10 parts during ESPN's coverage of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The series focused on Hugh and Sal's travels through South Africa. Hugh brought his son to the places where he grew up. It was Sal's first trip to his father's homeland.
, a non-profit organization which provides a daily meal to students of township
schools in Soweto
of South Africa
. Sal is also a strong public supporter of the Surfrider Foundation and Life Rolls On.
Biography
Sal is the son of the South African jazz musician Hugh MasekelaHugh Masekela
Hugh Ramopolo Masekela is a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, and singer.-Early life:Masekela was born in Kwa-Guqa Township, Witbank, South Africa. He began singing and playing piano as a child...
, and the older half-brother of Survivor: Cook Islands
Survivor: Cook Islands
Survivor: Cook Islands is the thirteenth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor, having premiered on September 14, 2006...
contestant Nathan Gonzalez. He is of South African and Haitian descent and was raised in Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Carlsbad, California
Carlsbad, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Carlsbad had a population of 105,328. The population density was 2,693.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Carlsbad was 87,205 White, 1,379 African American, 514 Native American, 7,460 Asian, 198 Pacific Islander, 4,189 from other...
, where he attended Carlsbad High School. Sal is the co-founder of Berkela Motion Pictures with Jason Bergh.
His career began as the receptionist/intern at Transworld Publications in 1992, home of TW Snow, TW Skateboarding and TW Surf magazines. An avid surfer, skateboarder and snowboarder, he is described by some as the face and voice of action sports. He served as a NBA sideline reporter for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
during the 2003-2004 season. Sal Masekela was co-host of The Daily 10, a countdown of the day's "top 10" entertainment stories, on the E!
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
network until it was cancelled on Sept 27, 2010 (last show Oct 1, 2010). He is also host of both the X Games
X Games
The X Games is a commercial annual sports event, controlled and arranged by US sports broadcaster ESPN, which focuses on action sports. The inaugural X Games was held in the summer of 1995 in Rhode Island....
and Winter X Games on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
He appears in the "Green" episode of Yo Gabba Gabba singing the song "Hello World" which aired on Nick Jr. on April 22, 2009.
In 2010, he was hired by ESPN to help as a correspondent in its coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. While working as a correspondent, Sal was featured, with his father, Hugh, in a series of videos on ESPN. The series, called "Umlando - Through my Father's Eyes", aired in 10 parts during ESPN's coverage of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The series focused on Hugh and Sal's travels through South Africa. Hugh brought his son to the places where he grew up. It was Sal's first trip to his father's homeland.
Social initiatives
Sal is involved in several social initiatives, and is the co-founder of Stoked Mentoring, an organization dedicated to mentoring at risk youth through actions sports. He also serves on the advisory board of The Lunchbox FundThe Lunchbox Fund
The Lunchbox Fund, founded in 2005, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a daily meal for extremely poor and at-risk students in South African town ship high schools. The daily meal boosts the children’s nutrition and ability to learn...
, a non-profit organization which provides a daily meal to students of township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
schools in Soweto
Soweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Sal is also a strong public supporter of the Surfrider Foundation and Life Rolls On.