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Capoeira in Bahia
in the 19th Century
Special programme with Frede Abreu
MarAzul is pleased to invite you to a special programme with Frede Abreu on Sunday, 2nd December, for talks and discussion about Capoeira, a pandeiro workshop and Capoeira roda.
Click here for the flyerFrede Abreu
Frederico José de Abreu was born in Salvador Bahia, where he has had contact with various aspects of the world of capoeiragem. From a young age, he was fascinated by the rituals of Afro-Brazilian culture, and started to record the things he came across. These records have contributed very useful information to the Capoeira universe. Today, Frede Abreu has one of the largest archives of historical references and documents about Capoeira, especially capoeiragem in Bahia.
Today, Frede gives many lectures, has written numerous articles and collaborated on research about Capoeira at national and international levels. His lectures have attracted the attention of capoeiristas, and in particular the academics interested in the study of Capoeira.
He was a founding member of the Capoeira Angola Academy of João Pequeno de Pastinha, and of the Mestre Bimba Foundation. Today he dedicates himself to organising the Jair Moura Institute – who he is the disciple of – a Capoeira document archive.
For us, practitioners and promoters of Capoeira, Frede is one of the greatest Capoeira intellectuals in the world. He may not want to admit this himself, but everyone respects him as such, since he doesn’t write about just what he has read about in the many books and articles he reads, but he writes about what he lives and has experienced in the world of Capoeira. Frede Abreu lives and breathes Capoeira as much as any one of us practitioners. That is what makes the difference!
Throughout these many years of (direct) experience with the oldest masters from Bahia (it is impossible to name all of them, but Masters Bimba, Pastinha, Waldemar amongst others), Frede has published three excellent books: BIMBA É BAMBA, Capoeira no Ringue (Bimba is the greatest, Capoeira in the Ring); O BARRACÃO do Mestre Waldemar (Master Waldemar’s Hut); CAPOEIRAS, Bahia, Século XIX, Vol 1. (Capoeiras, Bahia, 19th Century, Vol.1).
In these three books, there is plenty of very interesting information and very funny parts too, which enrich our understanding of capoeira. One example, in the Foreword to the book O Barracão do Mestre Waldemar, Frede says:
‘...I bought berimbaus from Waldemar, certain that this would satisfy the demands of João Grande, João Pequeno, Bobó, Nenel, Boca Rica, Curió and Canjiquinha, the masters involved in the project. The first to choose his berimbaus was João Grande, who, on testing one, noted that in fact all the berimbaus were made from broomsticks...I felt deceived and complained “Hey Waldemar, you sold me broomstick berimbaus!” “Yep”, he confirmed, and closed the issue: “Frede, who do you think you are? What do you understand about capoeira to complain about broomstick berimbaus?”. I started to reflect on this immediately. This lesson reinforced even more a thought that had been with me ever since I started to become interested and involved in capoeira. To be modest, find my space, not because I consider myself insignificant, but because I quickly realised the greatness of the world of capoeira, a thought I carry with me until today.’
Those that already know Frede Abreu won’t miss this opportunity to hear to him speak and take advantage of the opportunity to meet him again. Those that don’t yet know him will have the opportunity to talk with one of the most humble, open and honest people, with an extensive knowledge of our culture as a whole.
Master Djop Barbosa
Throughout his 28 years’ experience in the world of Capoeira, Master Djop has produced many things using all the elements that Afro-Brazilian culture offers.
A Master of Capoeira and a Percussionist, Master Djop is one those pure people, full of peace and tranquility. With a great deal of patience to teach, he finds pleasure in everything he does, and above all, is a good friend and responsible and honest with his work. He still maintains the tribal manner of relating to people as his African ancestors did.
In this workshop, Master Djop will focus on the pandeiro, allowing us to practice and perfect various Afro-Brazilian rhythms, all of which he plays perfectly.
Come and bring your pandeiro, let’s go on a journey round Brazil through the culture that we inherited from our ancestors and that has spread to the four corners of this country, and that enchants everyone the world over.
At the end we will do a big batucada, or even better, a 'Brazilian Pandeirada' - the kind of movement that has already been taking place with Mestre Carlão’s Kabula, in collaboration with the great Master Pedro Lima, who with his dynamism and creativity, has taught us how great and rich Brazil is with culture.
We will be waiting for everyone from our Tribe, for another Ritual, for another meeting, in the search for everything we want to produce/promote with our cultural art, Capoeira.
I wish you all plenty of Axé; we hope that with this event, we can contribute in a significant way to strengthening Capoeira in the United Kingdom.
Master Joãozinho da Figueira & Capoeira MarAzul Group
Date & Time: Sunday, 2nd December 2007, 12-5pm.
Programme
12-5pm: Pandeiro workshop with Master Djop, Talk and discussion with Frede Abreu, Roda de Capoeira.
There will also be a capoeira movement workshop for children.
Price: £15
Venue: Inn on the Green, 3-5 Thorpe Close, off Portobello Road (under the Westway), Notting Hill, London W10 5XL.
Nearest tube:
Ladbroke Grove. Click here for a map
A MarAzul production in collaboration with
Abada Capoeira
Project Gem and
Grupo Cativeiro Capoeira
Participation and support:
Kabula Arts & Culture
Angoleiros do Mar
Amazonas Capoeira
Dançando Angola
East London Capoeira
Grupo de Capoeira Angola Zimba
Union Capoeira Group
Capoeira Angola London
