Mikey February Debuts Book “African Space Program” at Brothers Marshall

Words by Ella Boyd. Photos by Sam Smith and Trace Marshall.

On December 13th, cars slow along a dark PCH. The parking lot of Brothers Marshall in Malibu is filled bumper-to-bumper with sprinter vans, pickup trucks, motorcycles, and Ford Econolines built some forty-some years prior. 

Hosted by Mikey February, the evening marks the release of African Space Program, a now sold-out, first-edition book that collects years of planning, surfing, art, music, collaboration, and creative documentation into a singular, tangible piece of art. 

February, born into a family of graphic designers, has spent a lifetime surfing the best waves around the world but has never missed a chance to praise the cultural depth and surf offerings of Africa. In this sense, perhaps a tangible document for a life of pure creative expression was the only natural next step for the freesurfer.

The event kicks off at 5 p.m. with beer from Kona Brewing and a steady flow of friends, surfers, and artists moving through the shop. Inside, photos and printed screen-grabs are pinned wall to wall. Racks of hand-shaped boards and surf history books frame sparkling conversation. 

In the parking lot next to Brothers Marshall, a large screen and small sound setup hints at what is to come. At the center of the crowded room is Mikey February, with wife Zelti and child Sammi, happily greeting all who enter. Behind them, a softly lit DJ booth, vinyls neon under colorful lights. 

African Space Program is a 300-page, perfect-bound softcover book, designed by Sam Smith and published by Spearhead Unlimited. Limited to a first edition of 50 copies, now sold out, the book brings together contributions from a wide-ranging group of surfers, artists, designers, and musicians, including Malcolm Campbell, Alex Knost, Steve Lis, Ryan Burch, Lee Ann Curren, Gerry Lopez, and Devon Turnbull, among others.

For Mikey, African Space Program is not just a title, but a framework. “African Space Program was inspired by a way of thinking and approaching all Spearhead-related projects,” he says. “I’m from Africa, and you have to be open to endless possibilities when you’re thinking about space.” 

As the scene inside becomes rowdier, guests fill the metal chairs lined up outside and the film screening unfolds in the parking lot, scored live by Eddie and Milo Ruscha. “We actually never knew what it was going to sound like until they created it at the event, which made it exciting for us,” Mikey admits. "But it turned out insane. It was so sick to experience it live.”

The film drew from years of footage. “Sam Smith (partner in Spearhead) put the film together and did a great job in not making it hours long,” Mikey noted. “We had so much footage, seen and unseen, from over the last few years that it was hard to cut it down.” When asked about his favorite moment, his answer was simple: “Including the mothership landing.” 

Inside the shop, African Space Program circulates hand to hand. Its presence reinforced the idea that the project was never meant to exist only on screen. “The idea for the book definitely came first,” Mikey said, discussing the project. “Trying to practice the idea of understanding the past in order to move forward. It felt really good to collect all of these ideas, inspiration, projects and put it in a book where you can celebrate them, let go of them, they can live on forever and you can move onto the next fun thing.” 

The film, he explains, emerged as an extension of that impulse. "The film was a result of having the event at Brothers Marshall. It was another opportunity to share it all with people in a different way to the book. It’s nice to show everyone the fullness of it, as well as the music element which is always fun and gets to add more context.”

In the back of the shop, Alex “Al” Knost, who appears in multiple episodes of Sonic Souvenirs, stands quietly, running his hands along his Brown Microwave Television surfboards, tracing rails and conversating about board design. 

Mikey is clear about who African Space Program is for. “The goal for African Space Program is to share surfing amongst all of the arts. Share ideas and keep creating stuff with rad people. It’s for everyone.”

Brothers Marshall provided a fitting home for the gathering. “The Marshall brothers have a sick surf shop,” Mikey said. “They do a really great job at curating and bringing in different artists and people to exhibit their work in it. We were honored that they let us exhibit our work there.” 

The success of the evening is measured simply. “It’s always fun to see who comes through on the night,” Mikey says, but “the best part was Eddie and Milo scoring the film live.”