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Capoeira was developed by African slaves immigrants to Brazil
in the 16th Century to fight their oppressors. It's a combination
of martial arts and acrobatics.
History
It's exact creation and evolution is part myth,
mystery and romanticism but the most popular theory is that
The Bantu slave group were thought to have spawned
the birth of Capoeira. Their culture and history was stored
not in books but in their body, heart and soul. They bought
with them to Brazil Candomble religion, the berimbau
instrument and vatapa food, all of which are quintessential
to the way of Capoeira.
When the Dutch began to invade Brazil in the 17th century,
many of the African slaves took advantage of the anarchy and
fled to form small villages known as quilombos in Brazil's
interior, with internal social and economic structures. The
Capoeira was a rudimentary fighting style used to defend the
quilombos against the colonialists attack.
When the Portuguese regained control in the early 19th century,
fleeing Napoleon's invasion on their home turf, they
sought to repress forms of African culture, including Capoiera.
Terrified plantation owners banned it, so Capoeira had to
be disguised as a dance. The ban was only lifted in the 1920's.
After the abolishment of slavery in 1888, the former African
slaves found they did not fit in with the new order, and many
sunk to criminality and gangs, especially the capoeirista,
and these gangs added daggers and flick knives to the traditional
capoiera moves, used to disperse anti-monarchy rallies in
Rio.
Meanwhile, in Bahia the Capoeira more creatively evolved
into a ritual fight-dance game where it survived into the
20th century. Mestre Bimba is a leading figure in Capoeira
who formed the first capoeira academy in Salvador teaching
the aggressive Capoeira regional style, and promoting it as
a National sport.
How to do Capoeira
Capoeira is not merely a sport but a combination of gymnastics,
dance, martial arts meeting music, culture, history and knowledge.
The player must balance the physical with the mental.
Today, it's part fight, part game, part ballet. Music and
lyrics, sung in traditional Brazilian Portuguese, play a big
part in the game, different rhythms call different speeds
and game types.
Players form a circle, known as a roda, and players
enter the ground with a cartwheel or move. The Capoeiristas
act and re-act in acrobatic and poetic moves.
The game takes two forms; Angola, slower and calculated
with movements close to the ground; and Regional -
fast and furious!
The berimbau is the main musical instrument played
during capoeira It's a kind of giant string bow. The musical
maestro (or "mestre") commands the capoeria
game ("jogo") using distinct rhythms. The
unique ringing sounds are synonymous with the play of capoeira,
but it's reappeared in car adverts, jazz recordings and even
heavy metal! It is now popular throughout the world in the
USA, Europe and Africa.
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