There’s also a PDF version in case you’d like to have a printed version.
Also, we have already started works on recording all corridos so people will be able to read as well as listen to them. But please bear in mind this is hard work and our resources quite limited so it might take some time…
Finally, we’re looking for volunteers to help us translate all the Corridos to English so people can know what they are singing.

Many thanks for your participation,

Kabula Team

Thanks,

Kabula Team

By Paul Healey

Just yesterday I was talking to a fellow student about why he started capoeira – his story was that he had seen the movie Only the Strong and liked the capoeira scenes. He now reckons the capoeira in the film isn’t really that good but it got him interested. I haven’t seen the film but it got me thinking about how capoeira has spread to the globe and what it’s like for students that practice and train capoeira outside of Brazil.

Many well known Capoeira Angola Mestres (Moraes, Cobra Mansa among others) have written a lot about how Capoeira has spread to the world – much of this is about the risks of globalization of Capoeira Angola and people learning Capoeira without proper support and leadership.

Due to my family life and work keeping me away from Brazil I’ve now spent a few years training here in London and wanted to comment on training Capoeira Angola in Europe from a Students’ perspective.

So rather than asking what has the expansion of our practice done to Capoeira Angola – I’d like to ask – what is hardest to understand and grasp for those training the art outside Brazil? That isn’t to say some of these things are also hard for those in Brazil as well..

I’m going to put down a few things but it would be great for others to put down a few ideas too:

Learning about what’s it all for – far from other elements of afro-Brazilian culture it’s often hard for European students to keep an eye on what Capoeira is about. It can easily become a hobby, a keep fit exercise or just a task to learn. We know that Capoeira can be lots of things and everybody has their own reasons for doing it but I see that the collective, community, social and cultural objectives are most easily lost in translation. Capoeira as an element of collective social and cultural value that we all contribute to and nurture is easily looked over far from its origins and original context

Time – experience – frame of mind. Capoeira take time learn and can’t be rushed. Most formal learning is much quicker – my PhD was only 4 years……I’ve been doing Capoeira for many multiples of that! Often students here in Europe expect to learn everything in a few years and often give up after 2 or 3 years. Also Capoeira learning can’t be rushed its often better to relax and stop trying too hard – that’s often very hard for people here in the much more competitive, fast paced and often individualistc context of the UK to get used to. I often find myself and others worrying to much about progress what we should be doing is too simply relax, train and enjoy process.

These are just a few things – there are many others including simple but things such as language and linguistic nuances for example but lets leave those for another blog.

Meanwhile, I’d like to ask you your opinion. What is it like to you, a student that practice and train capoeira outside of Brazil?

Mestre Poloca during a Master Class at the Thanet Centre Chalk Farm

Time flies and it’s already 4 months past since we’ve started using the Thanet Center as a shared space between Kabula and three other capoeira angola groups (Amazonas, GCAL and Filhos de Angola). We’re very happy to see the idea is working well and that we can all profit from such an amazing space to practice capoeira and receive famous guests.

A big thank you to everyone that’s been supporting this initiative by showing up to the Saturday classes.

Classes at the Thanet Center take place every Saturday, from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm followed by roda at Camden Town (By the Lock, if weather allows) and then a cold drink at pub nearby.

For more information, please visit our Thanet page.

A roda at BIDNA, a Syrian NGO that help kids through capoeira

We’ve been contacted by a project in Syria that’s using capoeira to help Palestinian-Iraqi children heal psycho-social wounds. We’ve just started to talk about collaborations with them and we’re hoping to bring you more news at some point. Nevertheless, we thought their project is so interesting that it would be worth bringing your attention to it.

BIDNA Capoeira is a new NGO (non-Governmental Organization) that aims to improve the well being of children and communities through capoeira.

The idea began last year at Al-Tanf Refugee Camp in Syria. Capoeira gave a safe and healthy outlet for people to express their anger and emotions. All ages were involved in playing and singing which had a harmonising effect on the community.

UNICEF has written a report, published on their website, recognizing the change of energy at the camp and the program’s significant psycho-social benefits.

For more info on BIDNA, please visit their website at www.bidnacapoeira.org.

Dear Capoeira Friends,
Please join us for a capoeira workshop and party on Saturday 28 August. Our special guests are Mestre Jaozinho and Professor Boneco.

The workshop is from 1-5pm at Praxis Community Centre, Pott Street, London E2 0EF.
Afterwards join us for Brazilian beats, funk, reggae and afrobeat at Three Blind Mice, 5 Ravey Street London EC2A 4QW (9pm-2am).

prices – £10
More infor: capoeiracebolinha@hotmail.com or on 07931916233.

Hopefully to see you there.
Thank you very much

Axe

42 years ago in Salvador, Bahia …

From now on and every week we will post a capoeira video showing, in especial, a good film, game, story or a interview about Capoeira.
We aim to inform and promote capoeira and it connected cultures such frevo, Bumba-Meu-Boi, Cavalo-Marinho, Maculele, Punga dos Homens, in order to bring awareness and celebrate the Popular Cultures of Brazil.

Please, do feel confortable to send your suggestions.

A big thank you for everyone that helped and supported that.

(Please visit our flickr account for all images captured by our team)

Mestre Carlao conducitng the bateria from Capoeira Extravaganza, Southbank Center, Brazil Festival

The public at Capoeira Extravaganza

Capoeira Extravaganza, Southbank Center, Brazil Festival

Suel, Boca do Rio's son

Mestre Carlao sings the corrido

The bateria at Capoeira Extravaganza

Guest friend and Toca from GCAL

More public at The Capoeira Extravaganza

Guest friend playing in the roda with kid

The bateria

Berimbaus replacement waiting for their turn to show

Vitoria Aranha at the atabaque

Mestre Carlão, Mestre Joãozionh and Paul Healey at the bateria

Professor Boneco (from Amazonas) playing with kid

Marcio Parana playing in the roda with guest friend