O que é a capoeira? | Instituto Voo da Iúna

What is capoeira?

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian cultural manifestation that combines elements of struggle, dance, music and ritual. Originated among the enslaved Africans in colonial Brazil, it has evolved over the centuries, resulting in different styles, from which Capoeira Angola and Capoeira Regional stand out.

Capoeira: Origin and Meaning

Capoeira emerged as a form of cultural and physical resistance of enslaved Africans, especially of Angolan origin in Brazil. Initially practiced in urban and port environments, such as Salvador and Rio de Janeiro, it was associated with marginality and was criminalized in the late nineteenth century.

Source: ICVI Collection

Capoeira Angola: Tradition and Ancestry

Capoeira Angola is considered the most traditional form of capoeira. It is characterized by slow, strategic movements and close to the ground, emphasizing the malice (mandinga) and the symbolic game. Musicality is fundamental, with rhythms such as São Bento Pequeno and Angola's touch, accompanied by songs that narrate stories and ancestral values.

Mestre Vicente Ferreira Pastinha was primarily responsible for systematizing and preserving Capoeira Angola in the 20th century. In 1941, he founded the Capoeira Angola Sports Center (CECA), promoting practice in gyms and emphasizing discipline, respect and cultural valorization.

Source: ICVI Collection

Regional Capoeira: Innovation and Systematization

Source: ICVI Collection

In the 1930s, Manoel dos Reis Machado, known as Mestre Bimba, created the regional capoeira, seeking to rescue the martial effectiveness of capoeira and remove it from marginality. He incorporated movements of Batuque, African struggle practiced by his father, and developed a method of structured teaching, with sequences of scams, uniforms and graduations.

In 1932, Mestre Bimba founded the first officially recognized capoeira academy, the Regional Physical Culture Center in Salvador. His disciplined and pedagogical approach attracted students from various social classes, contributing to the acceptance of capoeira as a legitimate sports and cultural practice.

Convergences and divergences

Although they share common roots, Capoeira Angola and Regional Capoeira differ in style, philosophy and pedagogical approach. Angola values tradition, symbolism and connection with African ancestry, while the regional emphasizes efficacy, discipline and systematization. However, both contribute to the richness and diversity of capoeira, reflecting the complexity of Afro-Brazilian culture.

Source: ICVI Collection

References

Yahn, C. A. de C. (2010). Capoeira Angola: Um Canto de Resistência. Revista Crioula, 7. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1981-7169.crioula.2010.55248 Revistas USP
Macedo, A. P. R. (2007). A Capoeira Angola: História, Persistências e Transformações. Revista História & Perspectivas, 1(34). https://seer.ufu.br/index.php/historiaperspectivas/article/view/19046 Portal de Periódicos UFU
Abib, P. R. J. (2007). Cultura Popular e Educação: Um Estudo sobre a Capoeira Angola. Revista Entreideias: Educação, Cultura e Sociedade, 12(11). https://doi.org/10.9771/2317-1219rf.v12i11.2738 Periódicos UFBA
Fernandes, F. A. (2023). Construção, Defesa e Transmissão de Saberes: Capoeira Angola e sua Pedagogia. Poíesis Pedagógica, 22. https://doi.org/10.69532/2178-4442.v22.74815 Periódicos UFCat
Vale, D. S. do, & Santos, V. S. dos. (2016). A Capoeira Angola como Vetor para a Educação em Direitos Humanos. Educação e (Trans)formação, 1(2), 1–18. https://www.journals.ufrpe.br/index.php/educacaoetransformacao/article/view/890 Portal de Periódicos UFRPE
Abib, P. (2017). Capoeira Angola, Cultura Popular e o Jogo dos Saberes na Roda. Edufba. ISBN: 978-8523214555