Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art game played to the pulsating percussive rhythms of a berimbau, atabaque, and pandeiro. Originally developed by African slaves living in Brazil's Senzalas (slaves houses) in the 1700s and 1800s, Capoeira has its roots in West African courtship and war dances, and is today recognised as a cultural symbol of resistance to oppression.

 

Capoeiristas stand shoulder to shoulder forming a roda (circle) within which the players enter to play the game. Those forming the circle keep cadence with their clapping, and build Axé (maybe best described as 'an energetic atmosphere') through songs that are structured through call and response melodies, that share historical memories, and can act as both a fuel for, and sometimes humorous commentary on, a game in progress. During the jogo (game) each player attempts to use their malendragem (trickery) and malicia (cunning) to read and out-wit the other in the ultimate physical game of chess, in which only the hands, feet, and head are typically permitted to touch the floor.

 

As the players develop their mandginga (magic) through the refinement of their technical and tactical vocabularies, games become a complex dialogue of powerful kicks and daring evasions, artful acrobatics and playful theatrics.