Think Tank Edutainment ,News & Views

Country: Brazil

Capoeira (pronounced cap-oh-ay-rah) is an Afro-Brazilian art form that involves movement, music, and elements of practical philosophy. In capoeira there is a 'ritualised' combat, which is called 'jogo', two capoeiristas exchange movements of attack and defence in a constant flow while observing rituals and proper manners of the art. Both players attempt to control the space by confusing the opponent with feints and deceptive moves. During the jogo, the capoeiristas explore their strengths and weaknesses, fears and fatigue in a sometimes frustrating, but enjoyable, challenging and constant process of personal expression, self-reflection and growth. Many Afro-Brazilian instruments are used in this martial art to determine the speed and character of the game by their different rhythms. The principal instruments include the berimbau, a one-string musical bow, which is considered to be the primary symbol of this art form. The berimbau is complemented by the pandeiro (tambourine), atabaque (single-headed standing drum), agogo (double bell), and reco-reco (grooved segment of bamboo scraped with a stick) to form a unique ensemble of instruments. Inspiring solos and collective singing in a call-and-response dialogue join the hypnotic percussion to complete the musical ambiance for the capoeira session. The session is called 'roda de capoeira', literally "capoeira wheel," or simply 'roda'. The term 'roda', refers to the ring of participants that defines the physical space for the two capoeiristas engaged in the ritualised combat.