Grupo Ypiranga de Pastinha: Year-End Roda

Hey folks:

This Thursday, December 20, at 7:00 pm, Grupo Ypiranga de Pastinha will be having our year-end roda at our space, which is located at Morro do Timbau, Complexo da Maré.

Just go down the walkway of Avenida Brasil. If you come from Baixada to Centro, cross the walkway. Otherwise, after getting off the bus, just go back and take the second street on the left. Go down this hill and you will come out in front of the building. It’s a squat, inside the old Quartzolit plant.

The Timbau community is calm and the space is very close to Avenida Brasil, you can come without worry. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Beijos,

Cris

Living Legends: a Cobra Mansa & o Gavião

Eu tenho dois irmãos
Todos dois, chama João
Um joga pelo ar
Outro joga pelo chão
Se um é cobra mansa
Sei que o outro é gavião, camaradinho

Mestre Pastinha sang this ladainha in honor of his two students, João Oliveira dos Santos e João Pereira dos Santos, also known as João Grande and João Pequeno.

The above photos are a sampling of the FICA-DC photo archives. These were taken by T Gege in Washington, DC at one of the first FICA Annual Conferences. T Gege coordinates the photo archives at FICA-DC and has a few exhibits hanging around the school, including this nice one.

All are welcome to come to FICA-DC and enjoy the photo exhibits. If you have pictures you would like to contribute to the photo archives, you can email them to the blog, or send them snail mail to the school. Our address is:

FICA
733 Euclid Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
USA

** M João Pequeno's birthday is around the corner. If you have something (pictures, a nice memory) you would like to contribute to the blog's on-line celebration, please send it to us!

Rodathon 2008: Details & Pledge Form

On February 3rd, FICA-DC along with FICA-Baltimore & FICA-Philadelphia will be hosting its annual Rodathon Fundraiser.

The Rodathon is a 7 hour roda in which participants are sponsored by friends, family, co-workers, random do-gooders, and others to complete as much of the roda as they can. Usually, participants are sponsored by the hour or given a lump sum. All funds go to support the Women's Conference that will take place in March.

The fun starts at 9 am and goes til 4. All are welcome, sponsored as well as non-sponsored capoeiristas. We'll have a little party afterwards.

If you would like to be a sponsored participant, you can download the pledge sheet here.

If you would like to sponsor someone (hmmm...perhaps the administrator of this blog??), send an email to ficadcarchives (at) gmail (dot) com and we'll work something out.

Hope to see you there.

Thanks to KatieS for the flyer.

2008 Women's Conference Info & Reg Form

I CAME HERE TO PLAY!

enter the roda
angoleira I am
corta capim
walk on my hands
giva a rasteira
cabeça no chão
volta do mundo
giro na mão
armada then chapa
teeth on display
you look surprised
but I came here to play
rabo de arria
every which way
I shake you hand
then go ‘bout my way

FICA-DC, along with the FICA-Baltimore and FICA-Philadelphia, is proud to present the theme and design for the 2008 FICA Women's Conference in the USA. The drawing and poem were done by our recently-featured poet, Charisse Williams.

I CAME HERE TO PLAY!
2008 FICA Women's Conference

where: Washington, DC, USA
when: March 6 - 9, 2008
invited guests: M Paulinha, M Cobra Mansa & others (to be announced)
costs:
By Jan 15th (includes t-shirt): USD$85.00
By Feb 15th (includes t-shirt): USD$100.00
After Feb 15th (t-shirt not included): USD$125.00

MEN & WOMEN ARE WELCOME TO HELP & PARTICIPATE IN THE CONFERENCE.

The Registration Form, with payment information, is available here.

We hope everyone can come, but if you are unable to get to Washington, DC that weekend there are a few other ways you can participate:

1. You can submit a piece for the literary/arts magazine that will be published in conjunction with the conference. We'll take submissions in all languages, but if your submission is not in English or Portuguese, please have it edited before you send it. More details here.

2. You can create an exhibit celebrating the women in your group that will be put up at the conference and displayed electronically here. For more information on this, please email the archives at: ficadcarchives (at) gmail (dot) com.

3. You can support the conference by pledging funds for our Rodathon (8 hour roda. whew!) that will take place on February 3-- which is open for all to attend. More details coming soon!

4. Support a woman from your group by raising money to send her to the conference.

FICA-DC: Bringing in the New Year Right

FICA-DC presents a special training weekend with Mestre Poloca & Mestre Paulinha

When: January 4 – 6, 2008
Where: FICA-DC, 733 Euclid Street, NW, Washington, DC
(between Georgia & Sherman Avenues, on the Green Line)
Contact: ficadc (at) hotmail (dot) com
Price: USD$40 for the weekend, USD$15 per class

Schedule

Friday, January 4
6 – 7 pm – Music Class
7 – 9:30 pm – Movement Class

Saturday, January 5
10 am –noon – Movement Class
3 – 4 pm – Music Class
4 – 6 pm – Movement Class

Sunday, January 6
10 am –noon – Movement Class
Noon – 2 pm – Lunch Fundraiser (for the women’s conference)
2 – 5 pm – Roda!!

News from FICA-Rio

Some news from FICA-Rio:

FICA-Rio has a new space located at Rua da Lapa, 181.

Classes are in the evening, Monday through Friday.

Rodas are every third Thursday of the month at the space and every third Saturday of the month in Largo do Machado.

On December 14-15, Mestre Jurandir will give an workshop at the inauguration of the new space and the end of the year activities.

Classes will resume on January 7.

Thanks to Vivian (FICA-Rio) & M Cobra Mansa for the information.

History of the Academy of João Pequeno de Pastinha

This short history of Mestre João Pequeno's school in the Forte do Santo Antônio Alem do Carmo was published in June of this year in the Diário de São Jorge, based in the state of Goiás. You can read the whole thing (in Portuguese) here.

Inaugurated in 1982, following the death of Mestre Pastinha, the Academia de João Pequeno de Pastinha had a great influence on the renovation of the Historic Center of Salvador (Pelourinho)…

In the early 1980s, Capoeira Angola was practiced in only two or three academies in the city of Salvador. They were groups of resistance that committed themselves to the diffusion of a lifestyle philosophy and not simply the formation of “folkloric groups”… Few resisted the influence of the “sportization” and folklorization of Capoeira Angola. In this context, the Academia de João Pequeno de Pastinha was born.

Created to combat this tendency, the academy became an important element in the revitalization of Capoeira Angola, preserving the line of Pastinha. Mestre Pastinha himself legitimized João Pequeno to drive this process. “They [referring to João Pequeno and João Grande, his two contramestres at that time] will be the great capoeiristas of the future, and for this I worked and struggled with them and for them. They will be mestres, not professors of improvisation like some around here that only serve to destroy our beautiful tradition. I taught everything I know to these two guys, even the pulo de gato. Because of this, I have great hope for the future.” (Diário de Notícias 10/3/1970)

Please send us any memories, articles, interviews, or pictures of Mestre João Pequeno that you would like to share with the Capoeira Angola community upon Mestre's 90th birthday.

Audiovisual Cultural Events in Salvador

The Point of Culture Audiovisual Archive of Capoeira Angola invites all to:

FICA NO PONTO
Free entrance

12/10/07
9:00 am
Where: FICA
The knowledge of capoeira and candomblé
Mestre Valmir Damasceno – FICA
Jandira Mawusi – Terreiro do Bogum

2:00 pm
Where: Pelourinho
Meeting with a Griot: Mestre Curió – ECAIG
Visit to a Cultural Point

12/11/07
9:00 am
Where: FICA
The Audio-Visual Memory: Archives Preservation preservação de acervos
Representative of DIMAS, Márcio Abreu – Coordinator of FICA Cultural Point
Lecture

2:00 pm
Where: Liberdade
Blacks in the Scene: Liberdade
Visit to a Cultural Point, CSU Liberdade

12/12/07
9:00 am
Where: FICA
Digital Culture: What the heck is this?
Davi Rodrigues, Ponto Escologia
Fabiana Goa, Pontão Cultura Digital
Lecture

2:00 pm
Where: FICA
Web Design
João Ramos, Design DIMAS
Diego Araújo, Web Design, Jr.

12/13/07
9:00 am
Where: FICA
Cinema: Photography & Art
Jairo Eledoro – Photography Director
Angel Callero – Art Director
Workshop

2:00 pm
Where: Barris
Visit to DIMAS
Festival of the 5 Minute Film

12/14/07
Where: Pelourinho
Visit to the Cultural Point: Electrocooperativa

Call for Works: Literary Magazine

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaahhhhhh!

Another addition of Caxixi, the literary magazine produced by capoeiristas + their friends, families, and anyone else who wants to participate, is in the works. The magazine will be published in conjuction with the 2008 FICA Women's Conference in USA. This is a really nice opportunity to get your work published and to participate in the events surrounding the conference, even if you are far away-- in Europe, Brazil, Japan, Thailand, Colombia, Mexico... or wherever you may be.

Here are the details:

Hey Angoleiras and Angoleiros, Guys and Girls, Moms and Dads, and yes, Children of the World,

It's time to break out your pens, pencils, paper, and cameras. We are calling for submissions to be included in the conference magazine. Poetry, art, essays, interviews, photos, and the like are needed. We are hoping to receive a few submissions from every group. The deadline for submissions is, Friday, January 18, 2008.

Release your inner poet, birth your artistic love child, download those pictures off your digital camera, draw a stick figure --- and send it in. All submissions should include your name and group affiliation. Please send them as an attachment in word doc formatting for written media and high resolution jpeg and eps for artwork/ photos.


Thanks,
The Editing Team

All submissions should be sent to caxixi.mag (at) gmail (dot) com

You can also send any questions to the e-mail above. Submit works in any languauge!

London: Christmas Roda & Party

Celebrating the holidays in the UK:

Urban Ritual Christmas Roda & Party
Friday 21st December 6pm - 11pm
@ Corbet Place
The Old Truman Brewery
15 Hanbury Street
London
E1

More info at: www.capoeira-angola.co.uk

Free entry

Thanks to Fantasma for the information

"I Learned with Mestre Pastinha"

This is a nice ladainha by Mestre João Pequeno. I believe it is on his CD.

Menino, quem foi seu mestre ?
Quem te ensinou a brincar
O teu mestre foi Besouro
Aprendeu com Manganga

Eu aprendi com Pastinha
Quero contigo brincar
A capoeira de Angola
A africano quem mandou

Na capital de Salvador
Foi Pastinha que me ensinou
Na roda de capoeira
Reconheço esse valor

Per usual, we'll leave the music translation up to you all.

Celebrating 90 Years All Month Long!

This month in Salvador, Mestre João Pequeno will celebrate his 90th birthday. There are a bunch of events lined up that will take place in his academy (see below), including a birthday celebration. Since not all of us have the luck to be Salvador, we'll also be celebrating his birthday here on the blog, dedicating the month of December to various posts about this important and influential capoeira mestre.

We'll start with a little history. This biography comes from João Pequeno's book, "Mestre João Pequeno, Uma vida de Capoeira", and was sent as part of the invitation to the December events at his academy. Enjoy.

Ninety years is no joke, its history

On December 27, 1917, João Pereira dos Santos was born in the city of Araci, in the interior of Bahia, son of Maria Clemença, a ceramicist and descendant of native Indians, and Maximiliano Pereira dos Santos, a cowboy on Fazenda Vargem do Canto in the Queimadas region. When he was fifteen (in 1933), João fled on foot from the drought, going all the way to Alagoinhas. Later he went to Mata de São Jorge where he stayed for ten years, working on the sugar cane plantation as a cowboy. He met Juvêncio, a metalworker and capoeirista, on the Fazenda São Pedro, and it was then that João learned about capoeira.

When he turned 25, João moved to Salvador, where he worked as a tram conductor and as an apprentice bricklayer in civil construction. He continued in construction, eventually becoming a master bricklayer. It was during his time that he met Cândido, who introduced him to Mestre Barbosa who worked as a porter in the Largo Dois do Julho. Barbosa led trainings, gathered a group of friends, and went to Cobrinha Verde’s rodas in Chame-chame on the weekends.

João became a part of the Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola, which was a group of capoeiristas coordinated by Mestre Pastinha.

From then on, João stayed with Mestre Pastinha, who soon offered him the position of treinel. This was around 1945. Some time later, João Pereira became known as João Pequeno.

At the close of the 1960s, when Mestre Pastinha could no longer teach, he passed the responsibility to João Pequeno, saying, “João, you take care of this, because I will die, but only my body will die, my spirit lives. As long as there is capoeira, my name will not disappear.”

At the academy of Mestre Pastinha, João Pequeno taught capoeira to all the other great capoeiristas who came from that academy, and later became great mestres, among them, Moraes, Curió, and João Grande - who became his great capoeira partner.

Mestre Pastinha advised João to work less and dedicate himself to capoeira. Even though he thought that he would not live longer than 50 years, he thought that he would live much better til this age.

Having to deal with the difficulty of a big city, João Pequeno worked as a market stall merchant and as a coalworker. He became known as João do Carvão. He lived in Garcia, a neighborhood close to the Dique do Tororó.

His first wife passed away, but a while later he met Dona Mãezinha in Pelourinho, during the Golden Age of Mestre Pastinha’s academy. He had a family, and with much effort, built a house in Fazenda Coutos, far from the city center, where they went to live and receive visits from capoeiritas from all over the world.

For João Pequeno, a capoeirista must be well-educated; “a good tree to produce good fruit”. Capoeira is good not only to maintain a flexible and fit body, but also to develop the mind. It can even be therapeutic. It can be worked like the earth from which we take sustenance.

João Pequeno sees capoeira as a process of individual development, a struggle created for the weak to confront the strong, but also as a dance in which one should not hurt their partner, demonstrating that the good capoeirista knows how to stop their foot as to not hurt their opponent.

In 1982, a year after the death of Mestre Pastinha, Mestre João Pequeno re-opened the Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola in the Forte Santo Antônio Alem do Carmo, where he created a new base for resistance, where Capoeira Angola emerged for the world. Even though he faced many difficulties maintaining the academy, he was able to graduate mestres and a large number of students.

In the 1990s, the Bahian state government made various attempts to evict the residents from the Forte Santo Antônio in order to reform it. Paradoxically, at the same time, João Pequeno was honored as “Citizen of the City of Salvador” by the town council, awarded an honorable doctorate degree from the University of Uberlândia (Minas Gerais), and honored as “Protector of Culture of the Republic”, by President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Everyone who has had the opportunity to meet Mestre João Pequeno agrees that "he is a sweet person", whose simplicity, spontaneity, and charisma seduce all those who go to the Forte Santo Antônio to participate in his rodas. He’s a joker, but he also does not anyone forget the fundamentals of the play and the dance.

His birthday is truly a spontaneous capoeira event, where there is big roda with the participation of many mestres and members of the capoeira community.

Beyond impressing all those who have the opportunity to see him play his excellent capoeira and mandinga, João Pequeno has distinguished himself as a capoeira educator, a major authority on capoeira, a reference in the struggle and life in defense of this noble Afro-Brazilian art.

More to come!

If you have something you would like to contribute regarding M João Pequeno, please e-mail it to us at ficadcarchives (at) gmail (dot) com.

Post-Turkey Day Roda in Philly

Last Saturday, a flock of capoeiristas braved the holiday traffic to gather in Philadelphia for a post-Thanksgiving roda with Mestre Valmir and Mestre Cobra Mansa. Many had come to participate in the workshops with M Valmir that FICA-Philadelphia had been hosting all week long.

It was a nice roda with lots of good energy and kids running around to make things exciting (perhaps more kids than adults...)

Besides the Philly folk, there were people from Atlanta, DC, Baltimore, New York, and even Maine-- but the best holiday surpise of all was the presence of the ladies from FICA-Oakland! It was so good to see you all.



Many thanks to FICA-Philadelphia for hosting. It was a blast.

Come Celebrate 90 Years of M João Pequeno

Get ready for a busy December for all angoleir@s in Salvador. Between the end of the year events at FICA-Bahia and these activities in honor of Mestre João Pequeno, you're sure to find many things to fill your hours. Have fun!

90 Revolutions around the World of Capoeira & Society

Schedule of Events

On the 1st, 7th, 15th, and 22nd of December, we will hold events that demonstrate the importance of capoeira in Brazilian culture, and its expansion to all continents, highlighting the contributions of Mestre João Pequeno de Pastinha in this historic Brazilian cultural phenomenon. Culminating in a traditional capoeira road and a celebration on December 27th, in honor of Mestre’s birthday.

Saturday, December 1
Women honor João Pequeno

1:00 pm – Opening of the Photograph Exhibit in honor of the 90 years of life and 75 years of capoeira of de João Pequeno de Pastinha. The exhibit will be open from Dec 1, 2007- January 2008.

1:15 – 2:00 pm - Banda Didá sings the National Anthem and other songs

2:00 – 2:20 pm – Recital performance with Importúnio Poético – Nascimento

2:20 pm – Honoring of Srª. Edelzuita, popularly known as Dona Mãezinha, wife of Mestre João Pequeno – A heroine by the side of a hero for more than 40 years.

2:25 – 4:00 pm – Seminar
Theme: Gender and Capoeira, Women in Capoeira in the Past and Today
Panelists: Janja Araujo, Adriana Albert Dias e Christian Zonzon
Mediator: Janja Araújo, M.A. in history

4:00 – 5:00 pm – Women’s Roda – 90 Revolutions Around the World of João
5:15 – 6:00 pm - Alice de Sanayá – Lullabies for the Boy João Pequeno
7:00 pm – Traditional Capoeira Roda – under the direction of Mestre João Pequeno

Saturday, December 7
1:00 – 3:00 pm – Berimbau workshop (Aranha e Nani)
3:00 – 5:00 pm – Seminar
Theme: Cultural Diversity
Panelists: Jorge Conceição, Pedro Abib, & Sérgio Guedes
Mediator: Jorge Conceição

5:15 – 6:00 pm – Presentation by Grupo de Samba Botequim.
7:00 pm - Traditional Capoeira Roda – under the direction of Mestre João Pequeno

Saturday, December 15
1:00 – 3:00 pm – Pandeiro workshop with musician Naoya Sawada
3:00 – 5:00 pm – Seminar
Theme: Capoeira, economics, and ethnic tourism
Panelists: Luiz Vitor, Billy Arquimimo, & Mestre Moraes (GCAP)
Mediator: Luiz Vitor Castro
* with a film screening

7:00 pm - Traditional Capoeira Roda – under the direction of Mestre João Pequeno

Saturday, December 22
1:00 – 3:00 pm – Caxixi-making workshop – with Professors Aranha e Zoinho.
3:00 – 5:00 pm – Seminar
Theme: Where is the capoeira and the capoeira
Panelists: representatives of the academy and groups of Mestre João Pequeno, Academia de AJPP- CECA - Forte Santo Antonio, Núcleo de Pernambués - Mestre Ciro, Núcleo do Rio Vermelho – Mestre Faísca

7:00 pm - Traditional Capoeira Roda – under the direction of Mestre João

Thursday, December 27 – Birthday of Mestre João Pequeno
3:00 – 3:10 – Opening: 90 Voltas ao mundo de capoeira e mandinga – On the trail of the tame snake that crawls along the floor, this Mestre João
Panelists: João Pequeno, Aranha (Isac Damasceno), Zoinho (Everaldo) Cristiane Miranda (Nani)

3:10 – 3:20 pm – Exposition of pieces from the recycling workshop

3:20 – 4:00 pm – Poetry (children and teens) – Recital – Collective creation, directed by Lutigarde Oliveira - Célia Alves

4:00 – 4:30 – Theater (teens) Born to be a Doctor – Text & Direction by: Nildes Sena, Choreography by Alexandre Moraes, Modeling by Nildes/Alexandre

4:30 – 5:00 pm – Berimbau show (teens). Direction & conception by Isac Damasceno (Aranha) and Cristiane Miranda (Nani)

5:00 – 5:40 pm – Capoeira Angola roda with kids – Teachers Everaldo (Zoinho), Marcos (Grito), Marcos Manoel (Marquinhos), and Benilton.

5:40 – 6:00 pm – Samba de roda (children and teens) Responsible: Alexandre Moraes and Lucilene Assi

6:00 pm – Traditional Capoeira Roda
Happy birthday, cutting of the cake, & fun!

Contacts:
Contatos: Nildes Sena // Zoinho(Everaldo)
71- 33262366 // 71 -99255830.
71 33230708 - AJPP – CECA

December Event in São Paulo

***PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DATE FOR THIS HAS CHANGED!!***
Friends of Rio Vermelho

Saturday
12/22/2007
2:00 pm

Workshop with Mestre Plinío
Capoeira Angola Sim Sinhô – SP

Roda de capoeira with the participation of invited mestres
Samba de roda
Afoxé
Workshop

Cost
R$30 – Friends of Rio Vermelho
(workshop + drinks + churrasco)

R$20 – Friends of Rio Vermelho
(drinks + churrasco)

Tickets are on sale only until December 8.

CRVCA - Centro Rio Vermelho Capoeira Angola
Rua Petronilia Antunes, 363 – Center – Jundiaí – SP (old bus station)

Thanks to Galinho de Ouro for the flyer.

Capoeira Angola Calendar 2007-2008

This is what we got going on pretty much through til next year:

November 2007
27 – Dec 2, Mestre Valmir Workshops – Washington, DC
27 – Dec 2, Encounter with Mestres Lua de Bobo & Jogo de Dentro – Bogotá, Colombia
30 – Dec 2, Workshops with Mestre Poloca – London, UK

December 2007
1, Seminar on African Divinities - São Paulo, BR
5-11, Workshops with M Cobra Mansa - Bogota, Colombia
7 – 9, 4th Capoeira Angola Encounter – SP, BR
12, Movie Screening FICA-Bahia - Salvador, BR
14-15 Roda de Malungos, FICA-Bahia - Salvador, BR
22, Final Roda of the Year, FICA-Bahia - Salvador, BR
30, Roda in honor of Mestre João Pequeno – Salvador, BR

January 2008
5, First Roda of the New Year, FICA-Bahia, -Salvador, BR

February 2008
1-3, 4th African Encounter – Maputo, Mozambique

March 2008
7 – 9, FICA Women’s Conference – Washington, DC, USA

April 2008
23 - 27, Event with Mestre João Grande, New York City, USA

Summer 2008
Annual FICA International Encounter – Chicago, USA

November 2008
FICA-Seattle hosts Mestre Pastinha / Zumbi Weekend - Seattle, USA

I'm sure there will be *many* additions throughout the year. Let us know if your event is missing.

This Weekend in DC: M Valmir

M Valmir is in town this week. If you are able to come down for evening class (music 6-7, movement 7-9) during the week, that would be great. If not, come this weekend:

SPECIAL WEEKEND EVENT WITH MESTRE VALMIR

When: Nov 30 - Dec 2
Where: FICA-DC, 733 Euclid Street, NW, Washingon, DC
Price: $40.00 for the whole weekend or $15/class

Schedule:
Friday - Music class from 6 to 7pm and movement class from 7 to 9:30pm;

Saturday - Movement class from 10am to 12pm;
Music class from 3-4pm;
Movement class from 4-6pm.

Sunday - Movement class from 10am to 12pm followed by a roda from 12 to 5pm.

Capoeira Event in Maputo, Mozambique

Mark your calendars. From Mozambique:

IV Encontro Africano de Capoeira Angola - Maputo 2008

Alo pessoal!

After a year of distance and missing, we are back with our Conference.

With the same axé, energy, brotherness, fellowship, adventure through nice beaches and places of our rich and Beautiful Mozambique that characterises our conference and above everything this year we bring more knowledge and experience from distinct and Honored Capoeira Angola Masters the conference is back.

From the 1st to the 3rd of February 2008.

Informations:
call: +258 82 7606820 / +258 82 7298950
email: isaac.mandlate(at)gmail(dot)com

São Paulo: 4th Capoeira Angola Encounter

4th Capoeira Angola Encounter

Schedule of Events
Friday - 12/07/07 - P.PTA - SP
7:30 pm – Opening event with “vadiagem” for invited guests, samba de roda, and cocktails at the "Os Angoleiros do Sertão" space.

Saturday – 12/08/07 - ASSIS - SP
9:00 am – 11:00 am – Workshop with Mestre Cláudio de Feira de Santana-BA
Noon – 1:30 pm: Break for lunch
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm: Percussion workshop with Contra Mestre Xandão (Paraguaçu Pta) and movement with Contra Mestre Xandy (Rancharia)
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm: Workshop with Contra Mestre Tico (Bauru)
5:30 pm: Round table discussion with Mestre Cláudio
Theme: Experiences in Europe and the Capoeira Angola roda
6:00 pm: Vadiagem with all participants, samba de roda, and fun til…

Sunday – 12/09/07 - RANCHARIA - SP
10:00 am - 12:00 noon: Vadiagem at the fair
2:00 pm: Talk with Mestre Cláudio
3:00 pm: Visit to the swimming hole and sambe de roda
Notice: There will be a bus

Notices:
* The presence of the illustrious Mestre Cláudio
* Registration cost = R$30,00
* Lunch will be provided
* All workshop participants will receive a certificate
* Register soon, spaces are limited

****************************

We hope to see you all there!!!

For more information, contact: (18)97138161 ask to speak with Xandão or Sereia.

Permangola 2008: 1st Agropecologica Meeting

Working hard down on the farm.

Mestre Cobra Mansa, beyond being a mestre of Capoeira Angola, is also dedicated to the practice of permaculture at his farm in Valença, Bahia. He along with several other specialists will be hosting the first Agropercologica Meeting, an event which will combine agriculture, permaculture, ecological construction, and Capoeira Angola, at the farm this January. Here are the details:

The seed of Kilombo Tenonde was planted hundreds of years ago in the quilombos of Brasil.

Kilombo Tenonde recognizes the existence of new forms of oppression in modern, industrial society. By promoting the re-generation of creativity, thought, and purpose, Kilombo Tenonde provides a chance to rebuild community structures that have been eroded.

And here we are today!

"Permangola 'The first Agropercologica' Meeting" is a series of workshops that provide an introduction into alternative systems of construction, agriculture, energy and Capoeira Angola here in Valença, BA and the rest of the world. In this meeting, we will unveil the first practical steps towards achieving sustainability.

Agroforest
In agroecology, agroforest is one of the most effective methods of creating diversity in crops and green areas (i.e., forests) for food production.
Topics Include:
· Types of agroforest
· Organization and preparation of seeds and seedlings
· On-site construction

Permaculture
Created in Australia during the 1970`s and presently used all over the worlds, permaculture combines traditional knowledge with new techniques to create permanent solutions while respecting the principles of nature.
Topics Include:
· Design and landscaping
· Water: Collection, storage, and recycling
· Soil management

Bioconstruction
Using environmentally-friendly material (i.e., bamboo, adobe, recycled objects), bioconstruction combines technique with creativity in the development of homes, structures for food production, natural purification systems, plant and animal habitats, etc.
Topics include:
· Bamboo: Use and management
· Superadobe: Technique and construction
· Water purification systems

What’s more. . . Come and learn how to use vegetable oil to transform your gas guzzling car!!!

When: January 15 - 21, 2008
Where: Kilombo Tenonde
Valenca Road BR
KM 23 (Bomfim)

Click here to see pictures of the Kilombo Tenonde in Valenca.

Cost for non-Brazilian: US$120 (Includes food and camp site)

*Please bring your own tent & sleeping bag
**Transportation from Salvador to Valença not included

Organizers:
Phill
Lua Santana
Isabel Modenci
Paulo Feliciano
Paula Elaine
Dona Eliane

Contacts:
Mestre Cobra Mansa
cobramansa (at) hotmail (dot) com
011 55 71 3217 4946

This is what happens if you forget your sleeping bag.

Chicago: Zumbi / Pastinha Weekend Wrap-Up

Dang!

Last weekend marked yet another successful Zumbi / Pastinha weekend event hosted by FICA-Chicago. (Above photo by Nora McMahon.)

Friday morning all those who had already arrived and were willing to wake up early took part in an early morning training with the Mestres. That evening, there was a white roda to open the event and honor the memories of Mestre Pastinha and Zumbi.

The next day was packed: two 3-hour classes, a lecture, lunch, and a party. There was barely time to breathe. We split up into two groups. Those with two years and less, and those with more than two years. Mestre Cobra Mansa gave the lunchtime lecture on the history of the berimbau. Later that night we came back to the space for the party. There was a rocking little roda. Following the roda, there was a jam session on the drum

One of the highlights of the weekend was meeting all the capoeiristas from across the USA. There were folks from New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Atlanta, Seattle, Indiana, Madison, Ohio, Washington, DC, and, of course, Chicago. I guess that's the advantage of having an event in the middle of the country.

Young students from Grupo Acupe in Indianapolis.

Another highlight of the conference was seeing a good number of kids play well. The kids from Grupo Acupe de Brotas, Marvin from FICA-Chicago, and Adrian and Ella from New York all wowed us in the roda.

There were also announcements about upcoming FICA events:

2007 Roda de Malungos, FICA Bahia, 7:00 pm, 12/14 - 12:00 noon, 12/15
2007 Final Roda of the Year, FICA-Bahia, 12/22
2008 FICA Women’s Conference will be held March 7 – 9 in Washington, DC
2008 International Capoeira Angola Encounter will be held in Chicago, Summer
2008 Mestre Pastinha/ Zumbi weekend will be held in Seattle, WA in November

M Jurandir leads the morning class with the help of CM Silvinho.


M Valmir rocks the agogô.


Alonso (FICA-Atl) and Cobra in the roda. photo by Nora McMahon.


Gunga, M Valmir; medio, T Beto; viola, M Jurandir, with M Cobra Mansa and Michelle, FICA-Chicago. photo by Nora McMahon.


Huu, FICA-Chicago, with CM Chorão, Grupo Acupe de Brotas. photo by Nora McMahon.


Everyone!

Here's a little slideshow:



I don't know why it turned out so little :(

See all Nora's pictures here.

And as always, more pictures on the Portuguese side of the blog.

Thanks again to T Beto, Huu, Michelle, Phu, Anne, Seth, Robert, Justin, Deanna, Kristen, Jenny, Ryan, Brian, Andy, Chelsea, Alycia, Geovannia, Mackel, Marvin, Marlon, Thea, and Ichi the Killer. We're looking forward to the big FICA conference this summer!

If you have any pictures to add, send them to us and we will put up the link.

Also, if you have photos from an event at your school, or an event that you attended, send them along and we will post them.

Upcoming Events at FICA-Bahia

December is going to be a busy month at FICA-Bahia. If you will be in the area, take advantage of these great activities!

The Fundação Internacional de Capoeira Angola invites all to participate in its end-of-the-year activities.

December
13
Screening of “Hotel Rwanda” by Terry George, 7 pm
Followed by a discussion with Mahomed Bamba, Ivory Coast
In collaboration with Cinemafro

14- 15
Roda de Malungos
Starts 7 pm 12/14 goes til noon 12/15
Organized by FICA-Bahia, Grupo Nzinga, Grupo Zimba

21
Video presentation, Akía Kokomuo Adessá, 7 pm

22
Last roda of the year

January
5
Roda de branco, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm

All events will take place at the FICA-Bahia space, located at:
Rua Carlos Gomes, no. 111
Edificio Ester de Moura Franco, 5th Floor
Centro - Salvador - Bahia
(tel) 71 3321 7365


Many thanks to Mestre Valmir for the flyer.

Angoleiros in Colombia

(with a few Germans mixed in)

Fabricio, who trained with FICA-DC for years and then went baiano, training with FICA-Bahia and doing a lot of good work with kids and art, sent these pictures from a roda that was held in Colombia in honor of Mestre Pastinha.





Fabricio is trying to pull things together in Colombia, starting up a FICA study group and putting together some mestre workshops and events. There is also a Volta do Mundo group there that will be having an event at the end of the month.

If you have the opportunity to go to Colombia, make sure you drop him a line and get your Angola on.

Capoeira Angola in Bogota, Colombia

A note from international Angoleiro and great amigo, Fabricio:

Hello FICA family, angoleir@s and capoeiristas everywhere.

A big hug from Bogotá, Colombia! Whenever you would like to visit, you are welcome!

I am happy to share news about some events that happened/ will be happening for the first time here in Colombia.

This past Sunday, for the first time in Colombia, we celebrated Black Conciousness Month and the anniversaries of the deaths of Zumbi and Mestre Pastinha. We organized a discussion with a workshop and a Capoeira Angola roda with the participation of other groups.

The biggest news out of Colombia, is that Mestre Cobra Mansa will be here in December!

It is my pleasure to announce that Mestre Cobra Mansa will be visiting Colombia for the first time December 5 -11, 2007.

Mestre Cobrinha is coming to Colombia to present the documentary, Mandinga in Manhatten, to lead a Capoeira Angola workshop, and to discuss future cultural exchange projects with local organizations.

I am glad to invite the angoleir@ and capoeira community to participate in the events during Cobra Mansa’s visit to Colombia, and other activities that we are putting on over the next few months, which we will let you know about once they are confirmed.

As many of you already know, after spending nine wonderful Carnavals in Bahia, I have returned to my home country to continue promoting a cultural exchange between Brazil and Colombia, along with a lot lot of Capoeira Angola- especially now that the Culture Ministries of the two countries have agreed to promote more cultural exchange, and particularly in regard to the African diaspora in the two countries. Now that I am closer to the United States, and more available to travel, I hope to see all of you soon. Keep in mind that my door is always open here (as soon as I find an apt!)

For information, you can reach me at the following e-mail:
Apolere (at) yahoo (dot) com

Grande Abraço,

Fabrício – FICA – DC, BA, and soon, Bogotá!

São Paulo: Seminar on African Divinities

For those of you that will be in São Paulo in the beginning of December, this looks like a really interesting seminar (The event is going to be in Brazil, you can find the complete list of lectures on the Portuguese side of the blog—sorry, no time to translate everything):

IV Forum on the Theology of African Divinities
African Cultural Center (Centro Cultural Africano - CCA)

Location: PUC – Campus Monte Alegre SP/SP
Address: R Min. Godói, 969- Perdizes
When: December 1, 2007
Time: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

The event will be coordinated by Nigerian and president of CCA, Otunba (king) Adekunle Aderonmu. We will also have specialists of the African Matriz Culture here in Brazil.

Registration is open until November 26. Please call: (11) 3392-7228/6123, or visit the website.

Because we are a non-profit organization, the registration costs will go towards funding the event.

Registration costs R$30,00 (thirty reais). It should be made as a bank deposit to:

BANCO ITAÚ
CENTRO CULTURAL AFRICANO
São Paulo/SP
Agência-0553
Conta Corrente-35201-4

Thanks to Galinho de Ouro for the flyer.

2008 FICA Women's Conference in Washington, DC

FICA-DC, with the support of FICA-Baltimore, invites all capoeiristas to join Mestre Paulinha along with other mestres and esteemed guests from all over the world take past in the 10th Annual FICA Women's Capoeira Angola Encounter, to be held in Washington, DC from March 6 - 9, 2008.

Further details will be posted as they become available. You may direct any inquiries about the event to: ficadcarchives (at) gmail (dot) com.

Hope to see you there!

The women of FICA-DC & FICA-Baltimore, with Mestre Paulinha, at the first official planning meeting.

Black Consciousness Day in São Paulo

If you are going to be in São Paulo this November 20, commemorate Black Consciousness Day with Grupo Nzinga. They will present their Berimbau Orchestra and do a roda at SESC Avenida Paulista. Here are the details:

Week of Black Consciousness
From November 13 – 20

Films: November 13, 14, 17, & 18 7:00 pm

November 20, Day of Black Consciousness
Music, Dance, Gastronomy, Craft Goods

Nzinga Berimbau Orchestra and capoeira roda 11:00 am
Ethnic hair exposition with Chris Oliveira 11:00 am
Atelier Preta Pretinha and the creation of Black dolls 11:00 am
Afro-Brazilian cooking with Chef Benê Ricardo 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Afro-Brazilian dance workshops with Evandro Passos 2:00 pm
Grupo Okun – Origins, the creation of the world 4:00 pm
Madrigal of the Afro-Brazilian Philharmonic 5:00 pm

Location:
SESC Avenida Paulista
Avenida Paulista, 119
São Paulo, SP
Estação Brigadeiro
(11) 3179 3700

Thanks to Galinho de Ouro for passing along the information.

Where in the World is Mestre Poloca?

Mestre Poloca will be traveling all over Europe doing workshops for the next few weeks. Here is a skeleton of his schedule:

November 16 -18, Marburg, Germany
November 23 – 25, Berlim, Germany
November 30 – December 2, London, UK

If you want more information, try this contact:
Tina, Grupo Nzinga, T 691 34 18 or tina.schenck(at)gmx(dot)de

Remembering Mestre Pastinha

Today, there will be rodas de branco all over the world to honor the memory of Mestre Pastinha, Guardian of Capoeira Angola. On this day in 1981, Mestre Pastinha passed away. Due to his love for and dedication to it, Mestre Pastinha lives on in the memory of all angoleiros.

Here is a (translated) bit from an article written by Reynivaldo Brito in memory of Mestre Pastinha that appeared in A Tarde in 1988:

...[Mestre Pastinha] had a posture and an elegance of a prince and a lot of malícia… "Angola capoeira-mãe. Mandinga of the slave in anxiety for liberty; its principle has no method; its end is inconceivable to even the most wise capoerista" This inscription which he put in the main room of his academy and later brought it to his room on Alfredo Brito [Street] reflects his own existence. And, on different occasions, he spoke of all the “philosophy” of capoeira. “Capoeira is mandinga, it is manha, malícia, it is all that the mouth eats. Capoeira has a negative and a positive, it also has the truth. Negative is to act as if you are going to do something and you don’t. But in the moment that the guy least expects it, the capoeirista goes in and wins. I always say that capoeira will never end in Brazil because it is the mother of all fights."

Iê! Viva Pastinha!

Celebrating 15 Years of Angola Dobrada in BH

Coming up, an event to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of a Associação de Capoeira Angola Dobrada in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Here are the details:

We have the great pleasure to invite you to celebrate our fifteen years:

Associação de Capoeira Angola Dobrada, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
From November 13 - 16, 2007

Schedule of Events
Tuesday, Nov 13
Roda in honor of Mestre Pastinha - 7:00 pm

Wednesday, Nov 14
Video Screening - 7:00 pm
Open-themed Disscussion - 8:00 pm

Thursday, Nov 15
Workshop with Mestres: Mestre Rogério e Mestre Índio
From 9:00 an - 12:00 noon & 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Cost: R$35,00 – this price includes both workshops and a t-shirt

Roda de Capoeira – 7:00 pm

Friday, Nov 16
Birthday party for ACAD - 15 years
Location: Casa África : Rua Leopoldina, 48 – Sto Antonio (almost at the corner with Av. do Contorno)- R$6,00 www.casaafrica.com.br

For more information, contact:
Contra- Mestre Alcione: (31) 3212-9244 e (31) 9735-9627
Treinel Iran: (31) 9772-5704
jspecker(at)gmx(dot)de
& carolinecesari(at)yahoo(dot)com(dot)br

Thanks to Lars for passing this along.

Music in the Martial Arts

MattL submitted this piece about music in martial arts:

The marriage of martial movements and music is often associated with disciplines of African descent, such as those found in Brazil, the Caribbean, and elsewhere, but how about the other parts of the world? Are they bereft of soul? Do they miss that beautiful essence at the heart of Capoeira and its relatives in the cultural soup of the African diaspora???

The short answer is no.

Music is found in other martial arts and often in very interesting ways different from what we see in Capoeira. Music is also at the heart of Indonesian Penchak Silat as well as Korean Taekkyun. Taekkyun was developed in Korea approximately in 25 BC. Though it fell out of favor approximately 600 years ago (for Tae Kwon Do), it's making a comeback in recent years. What's interesting to note is that it was originally practiced among the royalty and upper classes (yangban). It wasn't really practiced among the commoners.

Maybe that's the key to Capoeira's success - its link the continual struggle against oppression...

I have also read that capoeira was the only martial art that was not developed to protect an artistocracy/ ruling class. Can anyone confirm or negate this? It is a pretty powerful reflection on capoeira if it is true.

Here’s a little more on Taekkyun, from this website:

Unlike Taekwondo, which was developed last century, during the Japanese occupation, Taekkyun has been around on the peninsula for hundreds and hundreds of years. In fact Taekkyun was seen as being so essential to Korean character that during the Japanese occupation the practice of Taekkyun was banned (as was the speaking of Korean in school!). Taekkyun appears in folk paintings which are nearly a thousand years old. The first photographers to arrive in the Hermit Kingdom took photos of long haired boys, wearing the same white peasant clothes still worn by Taekkyun folks today. Taekkyun almost died out, because by the time the Japanese occupation was over, it was the warm up for the Korean war, and after that, reconstruction. No one had time in Korea for many years for pursuing dying cultural practices. Fortunately in the 80s two old men were discovered, still practicing Taekkyun (which is so gentle on joints and good for you that old people find it possible to continue long after they may have had to quit other physical pastimes).

Very interesting.

Mestre Rene in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Grupo T.A.B.C.A.T. (Tribu Afro Baiana Capoeira Angola Tradicional) will host Mestre Rene for a weekend workshop in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Here are the details:

Brazilian Capoeira Angola: The Peaceful African Martial Art
T.A.B.C.A.T. Capoeira encounter in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Friday Nov. 30
Lecture & Discussion: 510 years of Resistance for Afro-Brazilians

Saturday, Dec 1
Capoeira Angola class with Mestre Renê (Bahia, Brazil)
Folkloric dances of Afro-Brazil with Cintia Paula Lopez (Brazil)

Sunday, Dec 2
Capoeira Angola class with Mestre Renê
Capoeira roda led by Mestre Caboquinho

For more information, email: tabcatcolumbus(at)gmail(dot)com

Have fun & stay warm.

Angoleiros in the News: Lula Marcondes

International artist and Angoleiro, Lula Marcondes will have his artwork displayed at La Pena Gallery from Friday November 9th to Sunday December 23rd. Lula grew up in Olinda, Pernambuco, training Capoeira Angola and creating masterpieces. You'll see many of his designs on capoeira t-shirts and flyers. Today, he lives in Austin and trains there.

There will be an opening party next Friday, November 9th from 6 to 8pm at the Gallery (22 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas).

To see more of Lula's projects, check out his website.

Congratulations, Lula!

Do you know a capoeirista who is making news? Let us know and we will post it.

Capoeira Angola event in Colômbia

There will be a capoeira encounter in Bogotá, Colômbia at the end of the month. Here are the details:

What: 7th International Capoeira Angola Event
When: November 27 - December 2, 2007
Where: Bogotá, Colômbia
Invited guests: Mestre Lua de Bobo & Mestre Jogo de Dentro
Contact: info(at)fundacioncayena(dot)org
GRUPO CAPOEIRA ANGOLA VOLTA DO MUNDO
Calle 39 No. 20 -30. Barrio La Soledad
Bogotá – Colômbia
Tel. 57 1 5706951

No information on price, you'll have to contact the group for that.

Memories of the Old FICA-DC Space

At FICA-DC, we also have great photo archives that capture all the fun, friendships, and drama that we have shared over the years. To accompany Charisse's poem, here are some pictures of the old space, including some from the summer described in the poem. Enjoy!

M Cobra Mansa in the roda at the old FICA-DC space in the Takoma Park neighborhood.

Dale, Sheryll, Frauke (visiting from Germany), Iuna (visiting from Japan), Ama, Fabio, and a friend making caxixis.

Folks from Atlanta posing outside the space.

The poet herself (in blue) chilling with friends at the Grand Opening of the space.

As always, check out more photos on the Portuguese side of the blog.

Literary Edition: 4th & Butternut

4th and Butternut
by Charisse Williams

I showed up at 6:30 to work on the new space
and no one was there.
I always seem to end up at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Passed Fabio at the Metro as he was leaving
after waiting for 40 minutes.
As I sat waiting, I watched the people walk by
in shades of brown
I listened to the hum, rattle, screeches
of the buses as they passed and the
click clack click clack click clack
of the trains over the tracks
and the weeoo weeoo of the car alarms
and the Go-Go pumping from Jeep stereos.
I saw brothas exchange ‘what’s up, man?’
and handshakes in the park across the street
In fact, I can barely write this poem
for all the ‘how you doin’ today’s
from men who try real hard
to look me in the eye when they greet me
even though my skirt is way too short
for me to be sittin’ on this here stoop.
Sistas in suits
brothas in bowties
people pacing back and forth on cell phones
Ladies in Lexuses
winos with run over shoes
the stale stench of alcohol and summer funk.
I feel the rhythm and pulse
of this urban landscape with country warmth
in this community rich with culture
rife with contradiction.
I feel calm…
As I get up to leave I smile
as I look back
knowing
that the space will be there
tomorrow
and the next day
and the next.
Yeah…
FICA will be right at home here.

This poem, by the extraordinary mandingueira and singer Charisse Williams, was published in the first issue of FICA's literary magazine, Caxixi. It was written when FICA-DC moved into its first permanent space, at 4th and Butternut Streets in the Takoma Park neighborhood. She really captures well the energy of people and shops that inhabited that small square of the earth.

We have since moved on, but that space in Takoma -- always too hot in the summer and way too cold in the winter, lodged between the Jamaican market and the barbershop-- holds a lot of great memories, including conference rodas, visits from capoeiristas from all over the world, countless barbeques, parties, discussions, dance classes, poetry readings, and more. Tempo bom, tempo bom...

Mass & Roda in Remembrance of Mestre Leopoldina

There will be a mass said for Mestre Leopoldina on Saturday, October 27 at the Irmandade N.S. do Rosário e São Benedito dos Homens Pretos Church, located at #77 Rua Uruguaiana, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, at noon. Following the mass, next to the church there will be a capoeira roda.

Mestre Valmir in Philadelphia

Another reason to give thanks as we in the U.S. close in on the Thanksgiving holiday: Mestre Valmir is coming to Philadelphia for the week.

Monday, November 19 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Tuesday, November 20 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Friday, November 23 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Saturday, November 24 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
**Roda, Saturday, November 24 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm**

Cost: $15/workshop
Location: MLK, Jr. Recreation Center, 22nd & Cecil B. Moore Avenue
For more information, contact the group at: 215-500-5987, or info(at)icafphilly(dot)org, or check out their website

If you can't make it to the mid-Atlantic states, you can always see Mestres Valmir, Cobra Mansa, and Jurandir at the Pastinha/Zumbi Weekend in Chicago from November 8-11.

Thanks to Eva for the information.

**Word on the street is that everyone will head up to NYC for Mestre João Grande's roda on Sunday, November 25th.

Mestre Poloca Workshops in Berlin

Here is some information on an upcoming event with Mestre Poloca in Berlin. Besides movement and music classes, it looks like the storytelling workshops relate to an earlier post we did celebrating the "Malungos" event in Salvador in which we presented an article about M Poloca's work as an arte-educador. I hope we can do something similar in the U.S. while M Poloca is here. It is such a unique and creative way to get children interested in Capoeira Angola, especially for children outside of Brazil where there is little to no knowledge of Capoeira. Enjoy!

Mestre Poloca of Grupo Nzinga de Capoeira Angola de Salvador is coming to Berlin!!!

We're taking this opportunity to cordially invite all Capoeiristas from Berlin and everybody else interested.

When: November 23 - 25, 2007
Where: Academia Jangada for Capoeira Angola and Brazilian Dance - Torstraße
109, 10119 Berlin & A Livraria, Torstraße 159, 10115 Berlin for the presentation and discussion
Costs: Below, with payment information

Program

Thursday 11/22
5:00 pm - 7 pm: Story Workshop "When Queen Nzinga was a Child" with M. Poloca @ A Livraria

Friday 11/23
4:15 pm – 5:00 pm: Arrival, Registration, Change of Clothes
5:00 pm - 6:50 pm: Capoeira Angola Practice with M. Poloca
6:50 pm - 7:30 pm: Practice Roda
8:15 pm: Presentation and Discussion "The Process of Reaffirmation of Capoeira Angola in Bahia and around the World since the 1980s" @ A Livraria
Brazilian Snacks (Coxinhas) & Drinks!!!!

Saturday 11/24
9:15 am – 10:00 am: Arrival, Registration, Change of Clothes
10:00 am – 11.50 am: Capoeira Angola Training with M. Poloca
12.00 am – 1:50 pm: Contemporary Dance meets Capoeira with Ricardo de Paula
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm: Frevo e Maracatú with Carlos
3:00 pm – 4:50 pm: Capoeira Angola Training with M. Poloca
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Story Workshop "When Vincente Pastinha was still a Child" with M. Poloca
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Music with M. Rosalvo
7:00 pm: Roda

Sunday 11/25
10:00 am - 11:50 am: Musica with M. Poloca
Contemporary Dance meets Capoeira with Ricardo de Paula
12.00 noon - 1:50 pm: Capoeira Angola Training with M. Poloca
2:00 pm - 14:50 pm: Frevo e Maracatú with Carlos
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Roda
5:00 pm: Brazilian Bean Stew Feijoada!!!!

Costs:
Before 11/16
Friday - Sunday: 65.00 €
Saturday - Sunday: 55.00 €

After 11/16
Friday - Sunday: 75.00 €
Saturday - Sunday: 65.00 €

One Day Only: 35.00 € / 40.00 €

Participation for Children at the Story Workshops: 3.50 €

Electronic Wire:
Capoeira Angola e. V.
Postbank Berlin
BLZ 100 100 10 [routing n#]
Kto-Nr. 67 22 33 107 [account #]
Please indicate purpose of payment: "Workshop M. Poloca"

Details:
Don't forget your instruments, clothes, and clean shoes to wear inside.

If you're from outside Berlin and register by 11/16 we can arrange a
place for you to sleep. Don't forget your sleeping bag and foam sleeping pad/air mattress.

Reception of your payment counts as registration. Early registration is recommended, because there is a limited number of spots for participants.

We'll be selling tickets for the feijoada on Sunday for 3.50 €.

Program is subject to change. Please check the following websites for updates and more detailed information.

Grupo Vadiação

Grupo Filhos de Angola

Grupo N'Zinga

Or, contact:
CM Susy, Grupo Vadiação, T 4495738 or info(at)jangada(dot)com
Tina, Grupo Nzinga, T 691 34 18 or tina.schenck(at)gmx(dot)de
Trenél Andrea, Grupo Filhos de Angola, T 78891720 or andreafanger(at)gmx(dot)de

A big thanks to Lars for the translation German->English.

Here's the deal in the original:

MESTRE POLOCA (Grupo Nzinga de Capoeira Angola de Salvador) kommt nach BERLIN!!!

Wir nutzen das als Anlass, freundschaftlich alle Capoeiristas aus Berlin und alle Interessierten zusammen zu bringen.

Wo und Wann
23. – 25. November 2007
Academia Jangada für Capoeira Angola und bras. Tanz, Torstr. 109, 10119 Berlin
A Livraria, Torstr. 159, 10115 Berlin für den Vortrag mit Diskussionsrunde

Programm
Do 22.11.
17.00- 19.00 Geschichten-Werkstatt "Als die Königin Nzinga ein Kind war" mit M. Poloca
In "A Livraria".

Fr 23.11.
16.15 – 17.00 Ankommen, Anmelden, Umziehen
17.00 – 18.50 Capoeira Angola Training mit M. Poloca
18.50 - 19.30 Trainings-Roda
20.15 Vortrag mit Diskussionsrunde "Der Prozess der Reaffirmation der Capoeira Angola in Bahia und in der Welt ab den Achtziger Jahren".
In "A Livraria".
Brasilianische Snacks (Coxinhas) und Getränke genau dort!!!!

Sa 24.11.
09.15 – 10.00 Ankommen, Anmelden, Umziehen
10.00 – 11.50 Capoeira Angola Training mit M. Poloca
12.00 – 13.50 Contemporary Dance meets Capoeira mit Ricardo de Paula
14.00 – 14.50 Frevo e Maracatú mit Carlos
15.00 – 16.50 Capoeira Angola Training mit M. Poloca
17.00 – 18.30 Geschichten-Werkstatt "Als Vicente Pastinha noch Kind war" mit M. Poloca
18.00 - 19.00 Musik mit M. Rosalvo
19.00 hs Roda

So 25.11.
10.00 - 11.50 hs Musik mit M. Poloca
Contemporary Dance meets Capoeira mit Ricardo de Paula
12.00 - 13.50 hs Capoeira Angola Training mit M. Poloca
14.00 - 14.50 hs Frevo e Maracatú mit Carlos
15.00 - 17.00 hs Roda
17.00 hs Brasilianisches Bohnengericht Feijoada!!!!

Preise
Bezahlung bis 16.11.
Fr – So: 65,- €
Sa – So: 55,- €
Ein Tag nur: 35,- €

Bezahlung nach 16.11.
Fr – So: 75,- €
Sa – So: 65,- €
Ein Tag nur: 40,- €

Banküberweisung
Capoeira Angola e. V.
Postbank Berlin
BLZ 100 100 10
Kto-Nr. 67 22 33 107
Verwendungszweck Workshop M. Poloca

Details
Vergiß nicht deine Instrumente, Sportsachen und Hallenturnschuhe, gelle?

Für Leute von außerhalb Berlins:
Wenn du dich bis zum 16.11 einschreibst, wird für dich bei Bedarf ein Schlafplatz organisiert. Denk bitte an Schlafsack und Isomatte.

Einschreibung gilt ab Geldeingang auf das Konto. Vorzeitige Anmeldung wird empfohlen, wegen begrenzterTeilnehmerplätze.

Feijoada am Sonntag: Bon-Verkauf am Samstag (3,50 €)

Programmänderungen sind nicht ausgeschlossen. Zur Orientierung, Aktualisierung und detaillierten Information über Akteure und Angebote:

www.jangada.com
www.filhosdeangola.de
www.nzinga.org.br

Kinder
Teilnahme an der Geschichten-Werkstatt 3,50 €

Organisation
CM Susy, Grupo Vadiação, T 4495738 info(at)jangada.com
Tina, Grupo Nzinga, T 691 34 18 tina.schenck(at)gmx.de
Trenél Andrea, Grupo Filhos de Angola, T 78891720 andreafanger(at)gmx.de

Mestre Jurandir in Mexico

   
A message from FICA-Mexico:

Centro Cultural de Capoeira Angola FICA-México
3rd Anniversary Celebration featuring Mestre Jurandir

On behalf of Contramestre Rogério Teber and FICA-Mexico you are cordially invited to join us November 2nd,3rd, and 4th for our 3rd Anniversary celebration featuring workshops with Mestre Jurandir!

Schedule:

Friday, 2nd
Open Roda 7:30 - 9:00

Saturday, 3rd
10:00 - 12:00 Movements workshop
14:00 - 15:30 Discussion on Capoeira
15:30 - 17:00 Music workshop

Sunday, 4th
10:00 - 12:00 Movements workshop
14:00 - 18:00 Roda

Where: Centro Cultural de Capoeira Angola FICA-Mexico
Contramestre Rogério Teber
Calzada de Tlalpan 1188
Entre el Metro Portales y el Metro Nativitas
México, D.F.

Cost: 350 pesos

Please see our website for more details.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us me at kgiddens22(at)gmail(dot)com or our school at ficamexico(at)yahoo(dot)com

We hope to see you here!

Kevin of FICA-México
   

Mestre Leopoldina Remembered

On October 17, 2007 at 4:30 pm, Mestre Leopodlina (Demerval Lopes de Lacerda) passed away in the city of São José dos Campos, São Paulo.

Born in Rio de Janeiro and considered a model malandro, M Leopoldina was well-known for his capoeira and his stylish dress. You can learn more about him, including a documentary that was made about his life, here.



Here is a ladainha written by M Leopoldina.

Alguém me disse
Que pareço Ganga Zumbi
Óia lá, foi o Rei lá dos Palmares
E outros já me disseram
Que na outra encarnação
Eu era rico, muito rico
Eu tinha muita fazenda
E grande canavial
E eu era bom patrão
Só mulher eu tinha nove (bis)
Com idades variadas
E hoje, o que eu tenho?
Nem sequer tenho casa pra morar
Nem dinheiro pra gastar
Mas tenho a Graça Divina
Que é minha companheira
Óia, eu tenho a capoeira
E essa grande amizade
Dentro do meu coração, camará...
Iê! Viva Leopoldina!

R.I.P.

Celebrating Brazil in the UK

II Rhythms of Life: Celebrating Brazil in the UK

Kabula Arts & Percussion Event
When: October 27-28
Where: The Thanet Center, Herbert Street, London (Nearest Tube: Chalk Farm)
Invited guests: Mestre Cobra Mansa & Pedro Lima (percussionist from Rio)
Cost: £15 per class; £20 for 1 day; £35 for the whole event

Saturday
11:00 am – 1:30 pm: Capoeira class with Mestre Cobra Mansa
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Percussion class with Pedro Lima

Sunday
11:00 am – 1:30 pm: Percussion class with Pedro Lima
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Capoeira class with Mestre Cobra Mansa
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Capoeira Roda

For more information, including confirmation of the venue on Sunday, contact Kabula at: info(at)kabula(dot)org, or call 07903 803 149 (Rajesh) or 07832 198 372 (Arantza).

Have fun!

The ABCs of Capoeira Angola

This is a great ladainha for Capoeira Angola beginners. It was written by Mestre Pastinha.

Eu vou lê o B-A-BA
O B-A-BA do berimbau
A cabaça e o caxixi
E um pedaço de pau
A moeda e o arame, colega velho
Está aí um berimbau
Berimbau é um instrumento
Tocado de uma corda só
Pra tocá São Bento Grande
Toca angola em tom maior
Agora acabei de crê, colega velho
Berimbau é o maior, camará

Film & Lecture at FICA-Bahia

We all know that Capoeira Angola is more than simply movements and music, but also philosophy, knowledge, history, malícia, and a responsibility to the greater community, among many other things.

In this spirit, FICA-Bahia and the film club CINEMAFRO have been presenting a series of films and lectures at the FICA-Bahia school that deal with Africa and the African diaspora. Here are the details for 2 events in Ocotber:

The film club Cinemafro in partnership with the Fundação Internacional de Capoeira Angola (FICA) will present and discuss the film A Negação do Brasil by Joel Zito Araújo. This documentary film analyzes the presence of black actors on Brazilian television.

Date: October 19, at 7:00 pm
Place: Av. Carlos Gomes, Ed. Esther Moura Franco, nº 111, 5th floor – Centro
Tel: 71 3321-7365
Free admission

The film club Cinemafro in partnership with the Fundação Internacional de Capoeira Angola (FICA), presents L'envol d'un Masque?, by Phillippe Cassard, produced in Burkina Faso. The film deals with the relationship between tradition and modernity through the fable of an African mask. Following the exhibition, there will be a discussion with the anthropologist Maria Paula Aldinofi.

Date: October 21, at 7:00 pm
Place: Av. Carlos Gomes, Ed. Esther Moura Franco, nº 111, 5th floor – Centro
Tel: 71 3321-7365
Free admission

Mestre Lua Rasta & the old mestres

Here is a bit of an interview done by the magazine Nossas Referências that was put out by the Quiolmbo Cecília organization. In the article, M Lua Rasta talks about his childhood, his first encounter with capoeira, and his Friday night rodas at the Terreiro de Jesus, where sometimes the ghosts of the old mestres come out to join in the fun.

Nossas Referências: How was living with the old mestres, something that is already distant from the young generations?

M Lua Rasta: Man, life in those days, it was the old mestres who maintained this resistance, a resistance that was at times even naïve. But they were our role models. Waldemar, Mestre Canjiquinha, Mestre Bimba, Mestre Bobó, these guys were our leaders, they were the guys that, damn, idolizing has nothing to do with it, but we believed in them!!! Canjiquinha was a hero for me. He was a capoeirista who participated in a ton of films. You see a film like Barravento or O Pagador de Promessas, and the whole theatrical part, the performances , the culture, the production crew left it all in his hands; he was the one who gave the flavor of the popular culture to the film… Mestre Caiçara was another guy who was really good, in the era when Bahia had a lot of mysticism. Even this has been lost…Mestre Caiçara of Oxossi, damn, the guy was of Oxossi, which at the time was something strong, understand? Oxossi, the orixá of the forests. It was great to live with Mestre Caiçara in day-to-day life and see his way of being. Mestre Caiçara was a totally radical guy, totally rebelling against society, the system, the police system. All this was very important for people today who are 45 and 60 years old- resistance, you know? Real political resistance! Today a lot of people say, “Ah, but the old mestres played by the system’s rules.” No, but it was different, today it’s we who play by the rules of the system,in that era it was the system who played by their rules…

Thanks to ShaynaM for the translation. You can read her entire translation (the original was done in Portuguese) at her website.

The whole thing is available for your further enlightment in our archives.

**If you have an interview with your mestre or teacher that you would like to see posted, please email it to us. We can do the translation English <-> Portuguese.

Events Calendar Round-up

Here's what we have on our calendar for the next few months:

October
5 – 8, Los Angeles: Capoeira Angola Center Event “Let the Circle be Unbroken”
5 – 7, Helsinki: M Valmir Workshops
5 – 7, Philadelphia: M Cobra Mansa Workshops
12 - 14, Washington, DC: M Cobra Mansa Workshops
12 – 14, Atlanta: T Baba Workshops
19 – 21, New York City: M Jurandir Workshops

November
8 – 11, Chicago: Pastinha/ Zumbi Weekend
13, Anniversary of M Pastinha’s death
20, Brazil: Zumbi/ Black Consciousness Day

December
30, Salvador: Roda in Honor of M João Pequeno

Let us know if your event is missing! Email: ficadcarchives(at)gmail(dot)com

Roda with Mestre João Pequeno & Mestre Ciro

Its never to early to get out the word!

Here's details on a roda celebrating 90 years of Mestre João Pequeno, hosted by Mestre Ciro and his study group.

When: Sunday, December 30, 2007 4:00 pm
Where: Praça Artur Lago, Pernambués, Salvador da Bahia
Contact: M Ciro, rascirolima(at)hotmail(dot)com, (tel) 34315161

Yay! Love that picture.

Capoeira Angola in the Deep South (USA)

The inevitable group shot

The Capoeira Angola group in New Orleans took a trip up to Jackson, Mississippi to visit the group there and participate in the Mississippi Latino Fest. Lauren documented it all on her blog, check it out.

Looks like it was a lot fun.

Thanks, L!

M Jurandir in New York

Mark your calendars...

Mestre Jurandir will be doing a weekend of workshops and rodas in New York City, October 19 - 21. FICA-NYC is still working out the details, but here is the schedule so far:

Friday, Oct 19th: Evening Training
Saturday, Oct 20th: Open Roda (10:00 am-1:00 pm) & Afternoon Training
Sunday Oct 21st: Training, and MJG's roda afterward

M Cobra Mansa in the City of Brotherly Love

Mestre Cobra Mansa will be in Philadelphia on October 5th and 6th to do workshops. Here are the details:

When: Friday October 5 (6:30 pm - 8:30 pm), Saturday October 6 (10:00 am - 1:00 pm)
Where: MLK Recreation Center on 22nd and Cecil B. Moore Avenue (map)
Cost: $15 per session
Contact: info(at)icafphilly(dotorg

Sponsored by FICA-Philly.

Thanks Eva!

Africa Bantu Event in Geneva

Here's some information on an upcoming event in Europe:

When: September 21-23, 2007
Where: Geneva, Switzerland
Invited: Mestres Braga, Valmir, Edson, Jeronimo, China, and Contramestre Andreas

For more information on this event, you can go to their website, or reach M Braga at 0041 76 576-71-61, or by e-mail at nevesbraga(at)bluewin(dot)ch

Have fun!

Capoeira Angola in Harvard Yard

Monalisa, globe-trotting angoleira and Ph.D student, sent us this email about a Capoeira Angola study group at Harvard University. If you are in the area stop by! Here are the details:

Thank you for expressing interest in joining GSAS Capoeira Angola, the first group of its kind at Harvard University.

This opportunity was conceived as an extension of Kilombo Novo, a community-oriented group in the Boston area that combines the philosophy, history, and practice of Capoeira Angola with a community and youth-oriented focus. We are excited to bring the experience of Kilombo Novo to Harvard, at a fantastic new location.

Classes will take place every Monday, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Office for the Arts (OFA), Director's Studio, located at 74 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. The first hour of the class will be devoted to music, followed by an hour of movement/dance. No experience is necessary, although energy and an open mind are crucial. The first class of the Fall 2007 semester will begin this coming Monday, 17 September. While we do not operate on membership dues as of yet, per-class donations are greatly appreciated to help support instructor, transportation and instrument repair costs.

***Please wear loose, comfortable black pants, and a yellow T-shirt. You will also need clean, comfortable flat shoes (e.g. tennis shoes), but please note that they *cannot* be the same shoes you wear outside. Shoes worn outside bring in dirt and gravel, so it is important that you wear different shoes to train. We have been given this instruction by the OFA, which has just outfitted the Director's Studio with brand-new marleywood floors.

For those of you on Facebook, please view and join the group page: "Capoeira Angola @ Harvard."

We look forward to meeting you in the Capoeira "jogo" (game). Feel free to spread the word about our class by inviting interested friends, and don't hesitate to contact with any questions.