Capoeira

Capoeira is a Brazilian cultural practice that combines fighting and dancing in a way that can be viewed as a tradition, a sports activity, or even an art form.

Several historians have documented the early history of capoeira, like Dr. Desch-Obi. Originally, it originated from the Kongo Kingdom and was called N'golo/Engolo (Angola).

Known for its acrobatics and complex moves involving hands on the ground and inverted kicks, it emphasizes flowing instead of fixed stances; a rocking step known as ginga is the focal point.

The practitioner of capoeira is called a capoeirista. The word capoeira comes from the Tupi words ka'a ("forest") and pau ("round"). The word refers to low areas of vegetation in the interior of Brazil where fugitive slaves sought refuge.

The purpose of the dance was also religious, as it connected people to the afterlife (which was the opposite of the living world) as well as allowed them to channel their ancestors into their performance.

The capoeira players form a circle in the center where two players are engaged in a physical struggle. The movements are complex, and the players around the circle sing, chant, clap, and play percussive instruments.

Capoeira circles consist of a master and a counter-master, with a group of followers. In the circle, the master is the bearer of the knowledge and guardian of the repertoire, and is responsible for teaching and maintaining the group's cohesion, as well as for observing a ritual code. He plays a single-stringed percussion instrument, starts the chants, and controls the timing and rhythm of the game. Participants are expected to be familiar with making and playing the instrument, singing chants from a shared repertoire, improvising songs, following the code of ethics and conduct, and performing the movements, steps, and strikes.

A capoeira circle is a place where participants can observe and practice their newly learned skills. This also serves to affirm mutual respect between communities, groups, and individuals, support social integration, and promote the awareness of historical oppression.

However, Brazilian culture is actively exported via capoeira. Since the early 1970s, capoeira instructors began to emigrate and teach it in foreign countries. Every year, capoeira attracts thousands of tourists and foreign students to Brazil from countries all over the world. To better understand and participate in the capoeirista art, foreigners strive to learn Portuguese.

As of today, several renowned capoeira masters teach abroad and own their own schools. Capoeira performances, which are usually theatrical, acrobatic, and lack any martiality, are popular all over the world.

References

(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/capoeira-circle-00892) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira)