Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Capoeira African-Brazilian Dancing Gymnastics Heritage

Capoeira is an African Brazilian ritual dance displaying agility, power, strength and culture. Capoeira requires great physical strength and flexibility to dance and move on your hands and feet. Music is integral to capoeira. 

Capoeira is an African Brazilian ritual dance


Capoeira is a flow of communication between two capoeiristas or players through martial art dance and gymnastics performed to with musical instruments and singing. Capoeira requires superior hand–eye coordination, mental agility, and alertness, the word Capoeira maybe of Portuguese or Bantu origin. 

The reason why the roots of Capoeira are unknown is due to Angolan slaves introducing the sport to Brazil during the slave trade. There was no written record of Capoeira in Angola, only in Brazil. 

Capoeira requires great physical strength and flexibility to dance and move on your hands and feet. Capoeira is an African Brazilian ritual dance displaying agility, power, strength and culture. 

Capoeira fighters in Africa have cultural heritage of Capoeira in Angola, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Mozambique, South Africa, Guinea, and Senegal. Capoeira is indeed practiced throughout the world in Europe, Asia, Africa and South and North America. 

The word Capoeira maybe of Portuguese or Bantu origin. The reason why the roots of Capoeira are unknown is due to Angolan slaves introducing the sport to Brazil during the slave trade. There was no written record of Capoeira in Angola, only in Brazil. 

Therefore, the origins of Capoeira will remain unknown since oral and not written history is a tradition of many African people. Nevertheless, what is known is that African slaves brought Capoeira to Brazil by way of Portuguese slave traders.

The ginga is a move in capoeira used for attack and defense

Capoeira circles are called roda and are formed by capoeiristas and capoeira musical instruments players. The roda is a place where knowledge and skills are learned by teaching and practice. Music is integral to capoeira. 

It sets the tempo and style of game that is to be played within the roda. On November 26, 2014, Capoeira became an intangible cultural heritage of Brazil's humanity according to The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.  

The practice now joins Círio de Nazaré, Frevo, the Oral and Graphic Expressions of Wajãpis and Samba de Roda of the Recôncavo Baiano, which are already recognized by UNESCO.

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