Capoeira
Capoeira is a martial art coming from Brazil, that has its origins in Africa. It's a form of fighting that was developed by slaves taken from Africa to Brazil to defend themselves against the cruelties of the portuguese slaveholders. Capoeira took its origin in the so-called senzalas, these were those places were the Africans were cooped up. Capoeira was at the same time a secret weapon of the Afro-Brazilians which was disguised as a dance and accompanied by music. For this reason many people regard Capoeira only as a form of dance, some as a martial art and others as a kind of religion or a cultural identity.
The description of Capoeira therfore varies from the persons exercising Capoeira. It's an indian-brazilian word which stands for a species of little birds where the males are rather jealous and fighting a lot with their rivals. In Capoeira there are elements of dance, music, rituals, acrobatics and fighting.
In order to exercise Capoeira a cicle is formed in the sand called the Roda. Music will be played and everybody around sings and claps his hands whereas two fighters act in the middle. The leading instrument is the Berimbau. Other instruments are the drums, the Atabaque, as well as the Pandeiro, a tambourine. The Berimbau is a stringed instrument with only one string formed as a bow with a body of a dried fruit for strengthening the sound. Other instruments are the drums Agogo and Atabaqui.
Capoeira encompasses Maculele, done with blades, and Maracatu, with sticks.
When the combattants are standing in the Roda music is played and the spectators are singing.
History
The slaves in Rio and Recife came from different ethnic groups, every so often even from enemy tribes which led to the fact that it became extremely difficult to organize riots. In Rio there were mainly slaves from Bantu-tribes whereas in Recife they came primarily from Western-Africa. When the Africans became aware of their predicament and noticed that their situation was irreversible and they would be forced to slave work they started to run away.
In Recife there was a rebellion of 40 slaves against
their slave-holders, they killed all white employees ,
burned down the estates and decided to seek refuge in a
place where they could be safe from persecution. They
made up their mind to head for the mountains, a place
where they could have wandered to for several months, and
without the help of native Indians they never might have
reached it. Finally they came to a place with an
abundance of palm trees that was for this reason called
Palmares. Here an African community was established that
existed for more than a whole century. There the first
Capoeira was developed.
Whereas nobody can deny the enormous African influence
on Capoeira, nothing is known about first forms of
Capoeira in Africa. Everything that was wrote about it is
merely speculative. The first historical record about
Capoeira is of the year 1770, long after the beginnings
of slavery. Up to the beginning of the 18th century there
were no more records. After that Capoeira was mentioned
in different police records in Rio de Janeiro.
PALMARES
In the course of the years various scattered settlements
were build in the mountains, the biggest of which was
Palmares with 20.000 inhabitants, some of them were
Whites and Indians. Here people of different tribes that
were enemies in Africa joined together to fight for their
common goal. In the course of the years various scattered
settlements were build in the mountains, the biggest of
which was Palmares with 20.000 inhabitants, some of them
were Whites and Indians. Here people of different tribes
that were enemies in Africa joined together to fight for
their common goal.
The situation for the Portuguese
became even more difficult when the Dutch tried to invade
Brazil in 1630. The Africans took advantage of the
situation, fled with the help of the people of Palmares
and supported the Dutch in combatting the Portuguese
forces which suddenly were in a two-front war. The Dutch
won the war but the Africans never stopped fighting. In
the year 1644 the Dutch build up an expedition corps to
head for Palmares, however this intention never ended. In
the following years a second corps was formed to conquer
the mountains but this mission also failed.
It has to be stressed that the expeditions were
established by well-trained armed soldiers. The Africans
however began a "jungle war " using camouflage
techniques. 
Capoeira here was a key
element for the unexpected attacks. With fast and tricky
attacks the Africans were able to do severe harm to the
Dutch. Capoeira became their weapon and a symbol for
freedom.
When an expedition was successful, the slaves were brought back to the plantations where they began to teach Capoeira. The Sunday was a day of rest and then Capoeira was practiced. In the accomodation facilities the kind of practicing Capoeira soon changed. Music, chants, dances and other rituals were added to conceal that Capoeira was in principle a martial art.
During 25 years 11 rebellions took place in the colonies which finally led to the abolition of slavery on May 13th, 1888.
After the abolition of slavery only some Africans returned to Africa, the majority stayed in Brazil. As the owners of the plantations had no more interest in them, many of them were heading for the cities where gradually shanty-towns, the "Favelas" were emerging. There were no more possibilities for them to work and many of them were forming criminal gangs. Others could work as bodyguards of politicians because of their knowledge of Capoeira. But all of them were considered as a plague by the government.
The main activities of the Capoeiristas consisted in bringing the political life in disorder. In the 1890s some high ranking people of the Brazilian society were Capoeiristas. This meant a threat to the government and the president build up a special police corps to control the situation. As this was ineffective a rigorous law was issued. In chapter B of this law ten articles were dedicated to the techniques of Capoeira and to Capoeira-related crimes. Later another even more severe law was issued that said that everybody who gets identified as Capoeirista will be deprived of citizenship. To enforce this law the president hired a man named Sampaio who entered into Brazilian police-history as the most ruthless head of police. He was willing to eliminate Capoeira. .
Sampaio's police corps began to learn Capoeira to be able to fight the opponent with his own means. But due to their tough opposition and to the fact that the Capoeiristas found support by politicians with influence Sampaio couldn't be successful.
A single incident led to a sudden end of Sampaio's persistent persecution of the Capoeiristas. Sampaio arrested a man called Juca, a member of lower nobility, because of practicing Capoeira and wanted the man to be expelled from the country. This however led to a government crisis for the cabinet of the president, because Juca's father was well known and could rely on the support of many politicians.
The president called for an exceptional meeting of the cabinet and after eighteen days two members of the cabinet resigned and Juca was expelled. This incident was the reason for a change in attitude for the Capoeiristas. The opposition of the government created a militia that consisted only of black Capoeiristas which evoked fright and horror in the capital to overthrow the president. The police was powerless when facing this situation and just at the moment when it became completely hopeless the war between Brazil and Paraguay broke out. The black militia was sent to the front and the outlaws became national heroes. By this way Capoeira entered into a new chapter in the history of Brazil.
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