Capoeira Richmond Folk Festival 2010

When capoeira master Jelon Vieira came to the United States in 1975, Brazil's African-based folk traditions were little known in this country. Largely as a result of Mestre Jelon's efforts, there has been an explosion of interest in the art of capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian fusion of acrobatics, dance and martial arts, born in the northeastern state of Bahia, Vieira's home. An early form of capoeira came to Brazil from Congo and Angola during the 17th and 18th centuries. It arrived as a tradition of playful combat -- part dance and part game - performed to the music of the berimbau, a gourd-resonated musical bow. Under Creole influences, capoeira developed into a brilliant, independent tradition that flourished in slave and Maroon communities alongside Afro-Brazilian religions such as candomblé, and music and dance traditions like samba. Portuguese slaveholders viewed the martial arts aspects of the form as threatening, and capoeira was banned in Brazil until 1890. It remained, for the most part, a working-class game of the streets until the 1930s, when the art form gained broader acceptance. In 1935, President Getulio Vargas declared capoeira the "national sport of Brazil," which fostered a new pride in this unique Brazilian tradition.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 2010
• Richmond
• Music
• Festival
• capoeira
• luanda
• Brazil
• Bahia
• martial
• arts
• dancing
• berimbau
• breakdancing