Brazil: Capoeira

Capoeira came to Brazil when enslaved Africans were brought from West Africa during the mid 1500s. The art of capoeira emerged on the slave plantaions in a hidden & subtle form and became a lethal fighting system when forced to defend their new homes in quilombos in backlands. Under the watchful eye of the slave owner, capoeira appeared as a harmless dance.

Many enslaved Africansand their decendants in Brazil, escaped bondage, hid in the backlands and lived in free communities called quilombos. Here, anywhere from a few dozen to thousands of Africans and often people of mixed backgrounds lived as free citizens. The largest and most legendary quilombos is Palmares. Portuguese and Dutch armies were sent to destroy these defiant cities. For almost one hundred years, Palmares was successful in fighting off the invading armies.

When slavery was finally abolished in Brazil in 1888, African Brazilians moved to the towns and cities, bringing with them their culture and traditions. Capoeira survived in the ghettos & humbler neighborhoods despite persecution from police.

Capoeira Angola is the traditional form of capoeira that emphasizes freedom of movement, wisdom over force, strategy over speed. Capoeiristas are like chameleons, blending and adapting to their environment. The best capoeiristas appear calm when they play. Their game flows, defies gravity, and at the right moment, they strike.
*I attended an amazing capoeira performance, but was prohibited from taking any photos. :(