New York City, USA: New Years Day Roda

A note from New York:

Hey All,

Everyone is welcome to celebrate and bring in the New Year with a New Years Roda at the "Capoeira Angola Center of Mestre Joao Grande"

on New Years Day, January 1st 2009

the festivities will commence at 2:00 PM until..(so be sure to come early)

the cost will be $20.00 cash only please

There will be snacks, but feel free to bring something healthy (fruit, juice, water..)

dress code: comfortable shoes or sneakers
shirt that tucks into your pants (no tank tops)

all styles and levels welcome

the location: Capoeria Angola Center of Mestre Joao Grande
104 West 14th Street 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10011
212-989-6975

Muito Obrigado
Feliz Ano Novo!
from Mestre Joao Grande

Have fun!

Washington, DC: First Roda of the Year!!

Come celebrate with us!

Hello People

ICAF-DC will host our first roda of 2009 this coming Saturday, January 3rd at 11:00 am... Come start the new year playing capoeira with your camaradas!!!

This is a open roda, invite your friends and family to share this moment with them... please wear shoes and white clothes...

See you there!!!

FICA - Fundação Internacional de Capoeira Angola ICAF - International Capoeira Angola Foundation 733 Euclid Street, NW WDC 20001 202-322-0828

New York City, USA: Dancing & Prancing Holiday Party

Capoeira Angola holiday party.

Hosted by Mestre Ombrinho and Capoeira Angola Quintal

Saturday, December 20 • 3pm–midnight • $10
107 Suffolk Street, Room 307, NYC
(btwn Delancey & Rivington Streets)
F, J, M, Z to Delancey/Essex Street
212-677-2203

Join the fun and imbibe all the flavor of this great event on Saturday, December 20th.
Keep it toasty at this annual holiday benefit for NYCC’s nonprofit center and work.

Dance, prance, chat, drink, eat and have a great time: Capoeira roda 3pm-6pm.

Gourmet international buffet starts at 6pm.

DJ and dancing 8pm-midnight.

$10.

And if you see Santa in the roda, watch out. Word has it he's kicking ass and taking names (and making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out whose naughty and nice... )

São Paulo, Brazil: End of the Year Roda, Grupo Nzinga

A note from São Paulo:

Amigos,

To close up the year with positive vibrations and to commemorate the good changes that have been going on with Grupo Nzinga de Capoeira Angola/SP, we invite you all to vadiar with us at our closing rodas at our spaces in the Zona Norte and Pinheiros do Nzinga/SP.

FYI:

Zona Norte:
December 18, 8 pm above the metro Jardim São Paulo
contact: Piter (9919-1105) or Fininho (2265-5704)

Pinheiros
December 19, 7:30 pm
rua dos Cariris, 13

Have a >blast<.

Philadelphia, USA: End of the Year Roda

Capoeira Angola

Ritual - Dance - Martial Art - Music - Song

FICA-Philadelphia 2008 Closing Roda

Roda de Branco
December 13, 2008
2 - 6 pm

MLK Recreation Center
22nd & Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia

215 - 500 - 5987
info (at) icafphilly (dot) org

"Capoeira is malicia, it is cleverness. It is everything that the mouth eats."
- Mestre Pastinha

Thanks to Kamau for the flyer.

New York City: Event with Mestre João Grande

Roots of Capoeira Angola

Join the Capoeira Angola Center of
Mestre João Grande
for a special one-day intensive workshop

Saturday, January 3, 2009
10 am - 7 pm
$40, before December 24, 2008
$50, after December 24, 2008

Capoeira Angola Center
104 W 14th Street, #3
New York City, New York 10011
(212) 899- 6975
info (at) joaogrande (dot) org

Movements, music, and a Q&A session with Mestre João Grande on the legacy of os Antigos (the venerated elder mestres of Capoeira Angola: Ms Pastinha, Waldemar, Cobrinha Verde, Traira, Daniel Noronha, Livino Diogo, and others).

All levels of experience are welcome.

To register, please:
- send an email to info (at) joaogrande (dot) com to let us know that you are coming
- send a check payable to Capoeira Angola Center of Mestre João Grande, Inc. by mail to the address above

For more information, check out our website.

Thanks to T Gege for the flyer.

Salvador, Brazil: End of the Year Rodas

Next weekend will be a busy one in Salvador. Don't forget your white clothes:

Friday, December 12
7 pm
End of the Year Roda at Nzinga
Alto da Sereia, Rio Vermelho

Friday, December 12
7 pm
End of the Year Roda with Grupo Zimba
Via Magia, Federacao

Saturday, December 13
9:30 am
End of the Year Roda at FICA-Bahia
(white clothes)
Rua Carlos Gomes, no. 111

And, in 2009

Saturday, January 10
9:30 am
First Roda of the Year at FICA-Bahia
(white clothes)
Rua Carlos Gomes, no. 111

Mexico DF: End of the Year Roda

A note from Mexico:

Grupo Terreiro Mandinga de Angola, founded by Mestre Pedrinho de Caxias, invites the community to participate in its end of the year roda.

Casa de Cultura La Pirámide
Calle 24, esq. cerrada Pirámide
Col. San Pedro de los Pinos, metro San Antonio, Orange Line.
Mëxico DF.

Friday, December 19, 7 pm

Abrazos.
Take care.

------------

Grupo Terreiro Mandinga de Angola, México, fundado por Mestre Pedrinho de Caxias, convida a toda la comunidad a participar de la roda de fin de año.

Casa de Cultura La Pirámide
Calle 24 ,esq. cerrada Pirámide
Col. San Pedro de los Pinos , metro San Antonio, linea naranja.
Mëxico DF.

Viernes 19 de diciembre, 18hs.

Abrazos.
Se cuidan.

Zumbi-Pastinha Weekend 2008 in Washington State

Angoleiros came from all over - Chicago, Madison, Hawaii, NY, Oakland.... but it was Mestre Jurandir who brought the sun to Seattle for a Pastinha weekend full of energy!

FICA Seattle and the Evergreen State College in Olympia combined our annual Afro Brazilian Festival with Pastinha weekend. The drumming, dancing, singing, playing, sweating and eating all combined to provide an exceptional type of communion.

Treinel Daniel set the pace Friday night when he packed a one hour class full of movements and concepts, especially impressive considering that he was asked to teach 5 minutes before the class began. The opening roda that followed grew steadily and kept momentum for hours, the event was off to a promising start.


Of course, a few grueling workshops were tossed into the mix. Treinel Baba Jan and Contra Mestre Chorão teamed up on Saturday morning for a class that pushed us all to our limits. Some of the topics covered in the class were eye contact and focus, repetition to the point of exhaustion, and various types of sapinho.


Then, our friend Awal Alhassen taught the traditional "Sala" dance from his native Ghana. Through these movements, translated as "human", he reminded us that our ancestries are interconnected. Like capoeira, the conversation between drummers is a key component of West African dance.


Mestre Jurandir led the afternoon workshop, teaching a number of movement combinations that none of us had ever seen before, many of them centered around his particular knack with rastiera.

Throughout the weekend, everyone’s energy was sustained by nourishing food planned and prepared by our own nutritionist, Dona Leika (CM Silvinho's wife).

On Sunday morning Mestre Jurandir led a berimbau workshop in familiar fashion, teaching variations and listening to each person play individually around the circle. A question and answer session around song lyrics followed.

Next, to relax a bit, our friend Dora Oliveira engaged us in shaking it down, Samba style.


The closing roda was opened by the youngest Angoleira around, at two years, reminding us all that the essence of capoeira is natural and instinctive.

Our Northwest trio - Seattle, Olympia, and Portland were pleased and honored to host such an amazing event.

Thanks to all who came, especially those who persevered breakdowns and delays, and brought so much axe!!!!!


And many thanks to Criss from FICA-Seattle for the pictures and the great report.

Have an event re-cap or pictures that you would like to share with the worldwide capoeira community? Send it to: ficadcarchives (at) gmail (dot) com

Santo Andre, Brazil: End of the Year Activities

A note from Grupo No Fio da Navalha in Santo Andre, São Paulo:

Hello Friends!
The House of Capoeira Angola “No Fio da Navalha”

Invites everyone to partipate in our end of the year events!
With much capoeira and samba “No Fio da Navalha”

December 20 at 5 pm!

Address: Julio Ribeiro, 120
City: Santo Andre
Neighborhood: Sacadura Cabral
State: São Paulo > Brasil > Cep: 09060-760
Email & msn: cenoranofiodanavalha (at) hotmail (dot) com (dot) br
Telephone: (011)9853-8495 e 7205-7608

Roda every 15 days, ending with our Samba de Roda from 6 – 9:30 pm.

Jesus Cristo, Mestre dos Mestres!!!!!

Enjoy.

Padova, Italy: Festa de Capoeira Angola in April

A note from the group Associazione Capoeira Angola Pernambuco:

April 10 -13, 2009

Festa de Capoeira Angola
With Mestre Marcelo Angola

Padova, Italy

Contact: capoeirapadova (at) gmail (dot) com

Mark your calendars!

December 2008 Calendar

Here's what we have marked on our calendar.

December
3 - 6, FICA-Rio Event - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
12, Last roda of the year, Nzinga - Salvador, Brazil
13, Last roda of the year, FICA-Bahia - Salvador, Brazil
19 - 20, Encounter with M Jogo de Dentro - Salvador, Brazil
20, End of the Year events, No Fio da Navalha - Santo Andre, Brazil

January 2009
10, First roda of the year, FICA-Bahia - Salvador, Brazil
16 - 26, Permangola Event - Valença, Brazil

April
10 - 13, Festa de Capoeira Angola with M Marcelo Angola - Padova, Italy

July or August 2009
FICA Annual Encounter - Belo Horizonte, Brazil

If you have an event you would like to add, please send the information to: ficadcarchives (at) gmail (dot) com

Electing a Black President in Brazil

Following the historic election of Barack Obama in the United States, Reuters reflected on the possibility of electing a black president in Brazil. Here's a bit of the article:

... latent discrimination is rampant, as illustrated in the scant presence of blacks in television and advertising. Blacks also fare among the worst in health and education indicators.

Infant mortality among blacks is 40 percent higher than among whites, and illiteracy rates among blacks are also much higher.

Brazil has only had seven black ministers since democracy was restored in 1985, according to a UFRJ study.

Five of them have been under the current leftist leader, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, but they still tend to be limited to certain policy areas such as culture, sports and racial equality.

Analysts say it will take years before blacks take on powerful positions, and that only then would the ground be laid for an eventual black president.

"For us to have a black president in Brazil, we would need to have (blacks) at the head of companies, universities, town halls," Paixao said.

...

"It's part of the vision of Brazilian elites to disguise racial inequalities," said Santos, the equality minister. "But it is obvious when you have access to our social pyramid and see that it is white at its top and black at the base."

For working-class blacks, the prospect of a black president seems distant.

"The same racism continues in the U.S. and in Brazil today," said a 45-year-old construction worker in the capital Brasilia who gave his name as Ze Luis.

Read the full article here.

Thanks to Tanja from Grupo Aprendendo Angola for the article link.

Zumbi Day: Apenas Com o Coração

Agora tragam-me
Ferros em brasa
E marquem meu corpo
Que eu estou forte
Estabeleçam leis
E eu as transgredirei
Todas
E determinem padrões
Que eu os romperei
Cortem minha cabeça
E eu sobreviverei apenas
Com o coração

(Glória Horta)

Some badass poetry for your Zumbi Day this year. This poem hangs on the wall of FICA-Bahia as part of a Zumbi Day poster from a few years ago.

London, UK: Event Celebrating Besouro Preto

1st KABULA INTERNATIONAL ENCOUNTER

CELEBRATING BESOURO PRETO

.... history, culture and identity in Capoeira

:::: November, 27th to 30th

Films, Rodas, Lectures, Masterclasses, Afro-Brazilian percussion, Brazilian
party, capoeira t-shirts live stenciling-graffiti and more ...

- For more info and pre-registration contact us: info (at) kabula (dot) org or go to our website.

- Limited space - book in advance

- All the venues, directions and maps can be accessed on our website.

• November the 27th - The Arcola Theatre
Registration (please arrive a bit earlier in order to register for the Conference)
:: Opening Day - Screening + Q & A + Roda + Food
:: 6:30pm - Presentation of the Guests and Conference Program + Film
Screening - "The Caretaker*, Film Documentary (Film length: 84min)
(studio 3 - basement)
:: 8pm - Q & A - Mestre Russo (we'll move to studio 4, upstairs)
:: 8:20pm to 9pm - Welcoming Roda for guests and general public (Studio 4)
:: 9pm cocktail - Studio 4 and drink from Cafe Arcola - 20% discount on drinks
from bar

• November the 28th YMCA Stockwell
Registration (please arrive a bit earlier in order to register and get ready)
:: 6:30pm - Lecture - Capoeira for Performance and Acting with M. Carlao, Greg
Hicks / RSC + others)
:: 7pm / 9pm - Roda de Capoeira
:: 9pm - Warming up the drums: Afro-Samba Batucada collective leading by Master Percussionist Pedro Lima from Rio de Janeiro.

• November the 29th - The Thanet Center
Registration (please arrive a bit earlier in order to register and get ready)
:: 11am - Lecture + Q & A: Besouro Preto (Black Beetle) and capoeira in Bahia during the first half of the 20th century.
:: 12pm / 13:30 - choice of:
1) M. Pedro Lima collective Afro-Brazilian Percussion class (downstairs)
2) Capoeira: simultaneous workshop with M.Braga / M. Paulo Siqueira / M. Joaozinho
(3 classes at the same time and different levels)
LUNCH BREAK
:: 2:30pm / 4pm – choice of:
1) M. Pedro Lima collective Afro-Brazilian Percussion class (downstairs)
2) Capoeira: simultaneous workshops with M. Russo / Prof. William / Rejane- Rilene
:: 4pm / 5pm
- Rodas* - 2 Rodas at the same time (upstairs)
:: 5pm / 6pm - All together for Big Roda* (upstairs)
* So, we will have plenty of time to all participants play on both Rodas
:: 6pm/7pm (upstairs) - All together: Celebrating Afro-Brazilian Rhythms from Candomble with M. Pedro Lima leading Monjolo-Cabula, Barra-Vento, Congo & Samba de Roda Rhythms
(WE WILL HAVE MANY DRUMS BUT BRING YOURS IF YOU HAVE IT)
:: 9pm onwards (£2 donation)
Brazilian Party / Show with Pe de Serra* Band playing traditional Rhythms from Brazil + DJ
* The Great new Brazilian Band in London leaded by Mestre Pacheco and Prof. Pedro Campolina
@ Caipirinha Jazz Bar
177 Archway Road,
Highgate, London,
N6 5BL

_ Nov 30th - Shepard Bush - Marazul Space (11:30am / 6pm)
Registration (please arrive a bit earlier in order to register and get ready)
11:30am / 12pm - Film screening: Delicadamente Nobre* (TBC)
*** UK PREMIER *** (Documentary . 20 min. Color . MiniDV . 2008 . Brazil - Rio de Janeiro)
::12:pm / 1pm - Leaning Berimbau Rhythms Collective Master-Class (Berimbalada Orchestra*)
Lead by M. Braga, M. Carlao, M. Paulo Siqueira, M. Joaozinho, M Russo, Profs. Rejane & Rilene, Prof. Willam
*All the Masters will lead and teach Capoeira rhythms.
(BRING YOUR BERIMBAU AS WE DO NOT HAVE BERIMBAUS FOR ALL THE PARTICIPANTS)
:: 1pm / 2:30pm - Capoeira: simultaneous workshops with M. Braga / M. Carlao / M. Russo
:: Lunch Break
::3:30 pm / 4:30pm - Celebrating Afro-Brazilian Rhythms from Samba with M. Pedro Lima leading School of Samba Rhythms from Rio de Janeiro
:: 4:30/ 6:00 - Final Roda

ONE SATURDAY WE WILL HAVE AN ARTIST STENCILING / GRAFFITI T-SHIRTS WITH CAPOEIRA BLACK BEETLE MOTIFS (please order in advance)

*Films Description:

THE CARETAKER
Documentary. 84min. Color. 2007. UK - London
Shot in Brazil over a four year period, O Zelador explores the life of Mestre Russo who lives with his family an hour's bus ride from the centre of Rio de Janeiro. At an early age Russo discovered the value of Capoeira. The music, physical agility, self-defence and philosophy of this Afro-Brazilian cultural manifestation helped him endure a life fraught with poverty and danger. The film is an intimate portrait of Russo, his wife and sons and his loyal group of students who claim that Russo's love, knowledge and guidance have been an inspiration to them. A remarkable and engaging individual, Russo details Capoeira's place wider Brazilian culture and history supported by a wealth of archive footage.
Director: Daren Bartlett

DELICADAMENTE NOBRE (UK Premier)
Documentary . 20 min . Color . MiniDV . 2008 . Brazil - Rio de Janeiro
The career of Messias dos Santos, musician, painter and thinker of rural Afro-Brazilian culture – Master Messias as he is known. The film follows his thoughts, his painting and his music taking the viewer on a brief journey through the universe of this poet of Black Culture in Brazil.

Director : Cecília Lang
Script : Cecília Lang

Mozambique: Mulheres are Maningue Nice

From Mocambique

FINALLY!
A REPORT BACK FROM MOZAMBIQUE!
MULHERES ARE MANINGUE NICE !

Back in July, Deepa and Bessa from FICA Oakland had the opportunity to travel with Mestre Jurandir to attend the 5th annual African Capoeira Angola Conference in Maputo, Mozambique. Mestre Jurandir has been traveling to Mozambique for the past four years to support a study group there. Surprisingly, there are not many Capoeira Angola groups in Africa. In Maputo we counted 2 groups, and in South Africa heard of no groups that played only capoeira angola. The group of boys who follow Mestre Jurandir in Maputo met him on his first visit there and in the classic way that angoleiros fall in love and leave all their other lovers they immediately decided that no matter what Mestre thought he was going to be their Mestre and they were going to train only angola.

From Mocambique

The group is large for an angola group with 15-20 people, mostly young men under 20, and there were only 2 girls who had just started training when we got there. Their talent is amazing. Boys with less than a year, or a year and a half in capoeira playing so well, with so much mandinga. They have a wonderful group of kids. We attended the 5th annual African Capoeira Angola Conference and they were all very patient and spent most of two days straight with us. Deepa and I helped out teaching a workshop on Saturday, playing berimbau in the rodas, and did a palestra about Women in Capoeira. There are not many women in the Angola groups there, some foreign women but not many Mocambicanas. We went around and had everyone say what they thought the reasons were that women didn't train capoeira. They came up with - their parents wouldn't let them, it was too late at night for them to be out, they thought it was something just for boys, or they felt intimidated. We talked about why it was important, based on Mestre Pastinha's philosophy, for women and men to learn and play capoeira together. We talked about how they had the opportunity in Mocambique since capoeira was so new, to start the tradition with already women and men together, unlike in Brazil where there were many many years where women did not play. The girls promised to try to bring more of their friends, and a few of the boys said they wanted to make an effort to bring their friends as well and make sure they felt comfortable. In short, it was awesome. The girls especially were inspiring. At the root of the problem, however, is a very different culture where women do not hold the same positions in societies as men and in many regards do not interact with men as equals. I'm happy to say that when I came back in August, however, there there two new women training!

From Mocambique

Maputo, the city, reminds me of Brazil- the streets, the people, everyone speaking portuguese. But then you look closer and see all the women in their capulans - their wrapped fabric skirts; you hear Shingana and other African languages - and you know you are in Africa Although capoeira angola may not be popular in the motherland, the angoleiros that are there are dedicated, inspired, and an inspiration to all other angoleiros around the world.

Sounds like an amazing trip.

If you are interested in helping the group in Maputo, Bessa bought a bunch of beautiful capulans back and is selling them to raise money for the group there. I know they have some at FICA-DC. If you are interested, email: ficadc (at) hotmail (dot) com.

Many thanks to Bessa of FICA-Oakland for the report.

Mexico City: Black Awareness Day Event

Information about an upcoming event in Mexico:

Terreiro Mandinga de Angola
Founder Mestre Pedrinho de Caxias

Invites the community to

Black Awareness Day

November 22
3:00 pm

Schedule
- Showing of the film “Atabaques N’zinga” (Brazil)
- Open Capoeira roda
- Afro-Brazilian dance with
Odara (TMA)
Perola Negra (Dir. Julivaldo Santiago Santos)
- Presentation of the band
Oxaguian

Zumbi não morreu, ele vive em todos nós

Website

Centro Cultural La Pirámide
Calle 24, esp. cerrada Pirámide col. San Pedro de los Pinos
Metro San Antonio – orange line, Mexico D.F.

Free Entrance

----

Terreiro Mandinga de angola
Fundador Mestre Pedrinho de Caxias

Invita a toda la comunidad a la comemoración del

Día de la Conciencia Negra

Que tendra lugar el dia 22 de noviembre
A partir de las 15:00 hrs

Programa
- Exhibición de la pélicula “Atabaques N’zinga” (Brasil)
- Roda abierta de Capoeira
- Danza Afro-Brasileña com
Odara (TMA)
Perola Negra (Dir. Julivaldo Santiago Santos)
- Presentación de la banda
Oxaguian

Zumbi não morreu, ele vive en todos nós

Website

Centro Cultural La Pirámide
Calle 24, esp. cerrada Pirámide col. San Pedro de los Pinos
Metro San Antonio linea naranja, Mexico D.F.

Entrada Libre

New CD & Interview with Mestre Moraes

The latest edition of the Brazilian magazine, Praticando Capoeira, is devoted to the drop of Mestre Moraes' latest album, "Roda de Capoeira". The drop includes an interview with Mestre Moraes in which he talks about teaching Capoeira Angola around the world, musicality in capoeira, and the art form's roots in Africa and Brazil. It is a very interesting interview and the new CD maintains the same high energy and outstanding quality of his previous successful albums.

Here's a bit of the interview-- the cd you will have to get on your own:

Mestre, will you speak a bit about the martial and philosophical aspects of Capoeira Angola?

The martial and philosophical aspects of Capoeira Angola should not be analyzed separately. Movement and feeling should be linked so that the interpretation of the “game” is only possible by those who are part of the group that identify themselves as angoleiros. It was and has been this complexity thtat creates difficulties and has troubled projects that “characterize” Capoeira Angola until today. It is wrong to think that the angoleiro reacts only physically. The elements of capoeira, as seen by the naked eye, are always preceded by philosophical principles. Even if it is to orient the capoeirista not to react. I would say that philosophy is for capoeira what orality is to the written. One precedes the other.

How can Capoeira Angola help in the process of conscienceness-raising (individual or collective)?

I am unable to conceive of capoeira, being an instrument to orient its practionters, by socio-political facts, being used to raise indivual awareness. In the moment that it began to show it rebellious side in Brazil, repression against the groups that practiced it began, and not against the individual. As such, I believe that without collective conscienceness mestres will be transformed into personal trainers.

Could you speak a little about the question of music in Capoeira Angola?

The marriage of capoeira with the berimbau is part of the history of the Atlantic. Other symbolic associations have their place in the process of reorganization of African culture in the diaspora, and it is the same with capoeira. In the process of reorganization or re-inventions, whichever you prefer, various elements of different African cultures merged, and it offers us the most beautiful part of capoiera: the musicality. The game of capoeira starts with the rhythm of the berimbau. The berimbau player should be as capable as an alabê (percussion player in the Afro-Brazilian relgion), who through the rhythm of the music, enters in contact with the orixás and is the vehicle through which they take part in the celebration. The berimbau player has the same responsibility. In this case specifically, our “orixás” are the old mestres: Bimba, Pastinha, Valdemar, Bobó, Paulo dos Anjos, Caiçara, and others. I don’t believe that the mestres cited would particpate in rodas in which the musicians were not able to invoke them; ne it through music or the rhythm of the berimbau. After crossing Kalunga, I would be picky about which invitations I accepted.

Right on.

Thanks to Aloan & Chico Fedora for the tip.

Seattle, Washington: Zumbi/Pastinha Weekend Details

A message from FICA-Seattle about the Zumbi/Pastinha weekend to be hold in November:

Hi,

Our yearly Pastinha Weekend will be in Seattle this year as you have already probably heard. Welcoming everybody, we are now only a little over a week away.

Please share this with your groups.

Here is the info (you can also find this info on our website www.ficaseattle.org:

International Capoeira Angola Foundation Seattle

and

The Evergreen State College

Present

Afro-Brazilian Arts Festival
Homanagem a Mestre Pastinha
Exploring Culture through African and Brazilian Art Forms

November 14 - 16 2008

Rainier Beach Community Center, Seattle
8825 Rainier Ave. S, 98118

and

the Evergreen State College , Olympia
2700 Evergreen Parkway, 98505

Schedule:

Friday - Rainier Beach Community Center - 8825 Rainier Ave S. Seattle, WA 98118

7pm -8pm Capoeira Angola Workshop
8pm - Opening Roda, then::::::::::::: Snacks / Light Dinner

Saturday - Evergreen State College - 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW, Olympia, WA 98505, SEM 2 Building, room C4107

7am - 8am Breakfast
8am - 10am Carpool to Olympia
10:30am - 12pm Capoeira Angola Workshop
12pm - 1pm Lunch break
1pm - 2pm Discussion and Film with Mestre Jurandir
2pm - 3:30pm Traditional West African dance
4pm - 5:30pm Capoeira Angola Workshop
6:00pm - Roda
Dinner

Sunday - Evergreen State College - 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW, Olympia, WA 98505, SEM 2 Building, room C4107

7am - 8am Breakfast
8am - 10am Capoeira Angola Workshop
10am - 12pm Samba Music Workshop
10:30 - 12pm Samba Dance Workshop (concurrent)
12:30pm - closing roda
12:30pm - Snacks / Lunch

Workshop Instructors

Mestre Jurandir
Contramestre Chorão
Trenel Baba
Dora Oliviera
Awal Alhassan

Early Registration: before November 1 - $75, After November 1 - $90

send check or money order to: ICAF Seattle
PO Box 28547
Seattle WA 98118

*The registration fee includes all meals listed on the schedule, lodging Saturday night, transportation to and from the space, and a t-shirt!
If you need a place to stay Friday night, we can accommodate you in our homes, so please let us know.

Please send an email with the following information to pastinhaseattle@yahoo.com
*Name and Group affiliation
*Are you a vegetarian?
*Do you need lodging both Friday and Saturday night?

Daily Rates (does NOT include transportation/lodging/food/t-shirt):
1 day - $20, 2 day - $30

Register by
phone/email
360-918-1306
olycapoeira@riseup.net

OBRIGADO, CONTAMOS COM A PRESENCA DE VOCES, AXE PARA TODOS,
FICA - SEATTLE

Valencia, Spain: Black Conscienciouness Day

Celebration of Black Awareness Day 2008

Saturday, November 23
2 - 9 pm
at "TOTART with Juan de Mena 20, Valencia

Schedule of Events

2 pm, Inauguration & Welcome Cocktail
4 pm, Movie, "Amistad" (25 spaces open)
7 pm, Capoeira Angola Roda

in addition to..
photo exhibition
African, Afro-Brazilian, reggae, and Afro-Cuban music all day

Free Entrance for all

Organized by: BAOBAB Capoeira Angola

----

Comemoración
Día de la conciencia negra 2008

Sábado 23 de novembre de 14 às 21 hs
En “TOTART” c/ Juan de Mena, Valencia

Programación

14 hs, Inaugración y cóctel de bienvenida
16 hs, proyección del filme “Amistad” (aforo limitada 25 personas)
19 hs, roda de capoeira angola

además…
exposición de fotos, reseña histórica
durante todo el dia música africana, afro-brasileña, reggae, afro-cubana

Entrada libra y gratuita

Organiza: Baobab Capoeira Angola

Salvador, Brazil: Samba Percussion Classes at FICA-Bahia

Samba Class
Escola de Samba – FICA

Music class introducing the instruments and rhythms of Rio de Janeiro's samba school and of Bahia's samba de rodas.

Learn to play:

- pandeiro
- surdo
- caixa
- cuíca
- ganzá
- agogô
- reco-reco
- tamborim
- atabaque

Prof. Ana Tomich

Contact Info: 33217365 ou 91028066

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; "For the Mestres" Schedule fo Events

Schedule of Events
“For the Mestres”
Mestres Cobra Mansa, Jurandir & Valmir
Contramestre Rogerio Teber
Treinel Alder

Wednesday, December 3
Registration, 6 – 7 pm
Training, 7 – 10 pm
Place: FICA-Rio space
Rua da Lapa, 181 2o andar

Thursday, December 4
Training, 9 – 11 am
Place: FICA-Rio space
Rua da Lapa, 181 2o andar
Training, 4 – 6 pm
Place: Multifoco
Av. Mem da Sá, 126 Lapa

Friday, December 5
Training, 9 – 11
Registration, 4:30 – 6:30
Roda & CD Drop “Aos Mestres”
Place: FICA-Rio space
Rua da Lapa, 181 2o andar

Saturday, December 6
Training, 10 am – noon
Roda/ Lunch, noon – 2 pm
Training, 4:30 – 6: 30 pm
Closing roda, 7 – 10 pm
Place: Multifoco
Av. Mem da Sá, 126 Lapa

Registration Cost (t-shirt, cd & event):
Before December 1 – R$80
After December 2 – R$100
Send receipt (proof of deposit) by email to: alderoliva (at) hotmail (dot) com

Deposit:
Alder Silveira Oliva
Banco do Brasil
Agência: 3118-6
Conta Poupança: 19.398-4
VAR: 01

Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Its Been a Long Time Coming...

Not for nothing, but...


all right!

Good job, USA!


"They still call it the White House
But that's a temporary condition, too.
Can you dig it, CC?"

- George Clinton, 1975
"Chocolate City"

Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: December "For the Mestres" Event

FICA-Rio invites you to:

"For the Mestres" Event

December 3 - 6
Rio de Janeiro

Rua Lapa 181, 2nd Floor
More info: (21) 9471 - 5878 (T Alder)
alderolivia (at) hotmail (dot) com
website

Thanks to T Gege & M Cobra Mansa for the flyer.

CD Drop: Mestre Bigo in São Paulo

Francisco Tomé dos Santos Filho, Mestre Bigo (Francisco 45), a student of Mestre Pastinha, will release his CD in São Paulo at the space of Mestre Plínio of Grupo Angoleiro Sim Sinhô.

When: November 8, 3 pm
Where: R Turiassú 1172, Perdizes - São Paulo
$5

Here is a bit from an interview done by the magazine Praticando Capoeira, and posted on the Portal Capoeira website - both excellent resources doing important work to promote and preserve capoeira.

Francisco Tomé dos Santos Filho, Mestre Bigo, was born in 1946, in Salvador, Bahia. He began training capoeira in the mid-1950s after watching a capoeira presentation by Mestre Pastinha and Mestre Cobrinha Verde.

He trained at Mestre Pastinha’s school until 1975 (when he got married and moved to São Paulo), part of a community that included many great capoeiristas, such as: João Grande, João Pequeno, Natividade, Papo Amarelo, Jonas, Bola Sete, Gildo Alfinete, Genésio Meio Quilo, Roberto Satanás, among others.

After arriving in São Paulo he did not train capoeira for some time, but capoeira was in his blood, coursing through his veins. In 1989, Mestre Bigo founded Academia de Capoeira Angola Ilê Axé, onde realiza um trabalho até hoje.

Praticando Capoeira: What was Capoeira Angola like when you started to practice it?

It was a little different. Mestre Pastinha trained Angola corrida and Angola amarrada. Angola corrida was dangerous. We used to play hard with the people from Regional. They would raise their legs up high and the angoleiros would give them a rasteira. The angoleiro never raised his leg high, because he knew that if he did, he would go down.

Before, each game began with a ladainha, after came the improvisation, and later, the corrido. The capoeirista would play for a bit, and then the roda would stop and another ladainha would be sung. Capoeira took up a lot of our time. Today, there are more capoeiristas, and in light of this, there is less time to play in the roda.

In the interview, Mestre Bigo also recalls some of the advice Mestre Pastinha used to give his students. Here is some of it:

Don't enter a dark place.

If you think that someone may be armed, toss a lit cigarette on him; he will reach for his gun.

More of the interview here (in Portuguese).

End of the Month Calendar Round-Up

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

October
30, Deadline for Festival de Musica - Salvador, Brazil
31 - November 2, Workshops with M Cobra Mansa - Bogota, Colombia

November
1, Workshop with CM Urubu - São Paulo, Brasil
3 - 9, Workshop with M Jogo de Dentro - Milan, Italy
7 - 8, Final Selection Capoeira Angola Music Festival - Salvador, Brazil
7 - 9, Workshops with Mestre Valmir - Stockholm, Sweden
13 - 16, 2nd Capoeira Angola Festival - Paris, France
14 - 16, Mestre Pastinha / Zumbi Weekend - Seattle, USA
16, Memorial Roda - Campos dos Goitacazes, RJ, Brazil
19 - 23, Ecamar Encounter - Sydney, Australia
20 - 23, 1st FICA-SP Encounter - São Paulo, Brazil
27 - 30, Grupo Kabula Event - London, UK
29, "O saber do sabor ancestral", Acanne - Salvador, Brazil

December
3 - 6, FICA-Rio Event - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
19 - 20, Encounter with M Jogo de Dentro - Salvador, Brazil

January 2009
16 - 26, Permangola Event - Valença, Brazil

July or August 2009
FICA Annual Encounter - Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Is your event missing? Let us know and we will add it to our calendar.

São Paulo, Brazil: Latest information on 1st FICA Encounter

1st Encounter of FICA-São Paulo Study Group

Kusanga Kia Muijí
Family Reunion

with the presence of FICA Mestres Cobra Mansa & Valmir

November 20 -23, 2008

also present:
Mesre Bigo (Francisco 45) – SP, student of Mestre Pastinha
Mestre Ananias – SP
Mestre Paulo Brasa – RJ
Aloan – FICA-Bahia

… and others!!

Capoeira Angola Workshops
Music Workshops
Video Screenings
Lectures
Samba de Roda

Place: Barroca Zona Sul
Av. Professor Abraão de Moraes, no. 1800
(Início da Rodovia dos Imigrantes)

Costs:
til October 31 - R$ 100,00
til November 14 - R$ 130,00
November 15 and beyond - R$ 150,00

Payment options:
2x de R$ 60,00 (checks or deposits with receipt)

REgistration by bank deposit:
Banco Bradesco
Agência: 1193-2 Conta Corrente: 42718-7
Titular: Tabatta Ventura

Send the receipt by fax or email to:
FoneFax: 55 (011) 4178-2033
Email: tabatta_morena (at) hotmail (dot) com

Contatos:
•Womualy: 55 (11) 9840-2314
•Tabatta (Morena): 55 (11) 9313-5644
•Alexandre (Alê): 55 (11) 83975867

More information:

Check out our Orkut page: (GECASP)

Visit our website.

Email: fica_sp (at) hotmail (dot) com

Thanks to Wolmauly for the flyer. Have a blast.

Paris, France: 2nd Festival of Capoeira with Angoleiros do Mar

Professor Fubuia
and the Association Angoleiros do Mar Paris present

The 2nd Festival Capoeira
Angoleiros do Mar Paris

November 13 - 16, 2008

… capoeira, roda, maculêlê, puxada de rede, drumming, samba, Brazilian party, Project Gingando no Mar…

with the presence of Mestres Marcelo Angola, Rosalvo, Russo, Branco, Guara
Contramestres Reny et Susy
Professors Marcelo Cacique, Fantasma, Amazonas (Rilene, Rejane, Boneco)
Professors from the Angoleiros do Mar family, Mandela, Bizarro, Xinxarro, Charel, Grilo, Visconde, Andre Ponta de Areia, Molinho

Pre-registration is open until November 1
70 euros: complete event, from the 13 – 16
60 euros: 2 days
35 euros: 1 day

More information on our website.

**********

Professor Fubuia et l’association angoleiros do mar Paris présentent:

2éme festival capoeira
Angoleiros do mar Paris

du 13 au 16 novembre 2008

… capoeira, roda, maculêlê, puxada de rede, percussions, samba, soirée brésilienne, projet gingando no mar…

avec la presence des mestres Marcelo Angola, Rosalvo, Russo, Branco, Guara
Des contramestres Reny et Susy
Des prof. Marcelo Cacique, Fantasma, Amazonas (Rilene, Rejane, Boneco)
Des profs de la familia angoleiros do mar: Mandela, Bizarro, Xinxarro, Charel, Grilo, Visconde, Andre Ponta de Areia, Molinho

Tarifs en pré-vente jusqu’au 01 nov
70 euros: du 13 – 16
60 euros: 2 jours
35 euros: 1 jour

Toutes les infos ici.

Looks like a great time.

Merci beaucoup to Academia Jangada for the flyer.

São Paulo, Brasil: Workshop with Cm Urubu

Contra-Mestre Urubu – RJ
Open Workshop
Capoeiristas and interested public
Grupo Nzinga de Capoeira Angola

Saturday, November 1
3:00 pm
Rua Cariris, 13
Pinheiros - São Paulo
8937-3396

contribution: R$20,00

Bogota, Colombia: Workshops with Mestre Cobra Mansa

Mandinga en Colombia 2008
Mestre Cobra Mansa
October 31 - November 2

Schedule of Activities

31, Friday
2 pm
Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano Cr. 4A #22-61
Open Roda

5:30 pm
Registration (open registration until Thursday, Oct 30)

6-9pm
Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano Cr. 4A #22-61
Movement & music workshop

1, Saturday
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano Cr. 4A #22-61
Movement & music workshop

2-6 pm
Universidad Javeriana Centro Deportivo Cr. 7ª # 40-62
Music & movement workshop
Roda

6-8 pm
Universidad Javeriana Cr. 7ª # 40-62
Documentary Screening “Mandinga em Manhattan”

2, Sunday
10 am – 3 pm
Parque Nacional Cr. 7ª entre Calles 35 y 39
Workshop & Open Roda

4-5 pm
Parque Nacional Cr. 7ª entre Calles 35 y 39
Presentation: Tambor de Criola de Maranhao– Jon Mario

6-7 pm
Parque Nacional Cr. 7ª entre Calles 35 y 39
Documentary screening: “Orixas da Bahia” Cinelibertad

Participants must register by Thursday, Ocotber 31.

To register for the workshops, we need your complete name and numero de Cédula. To register, contact Patricia - 300 577 4314 or Aengee - 315 403 5969

For more information, email: ficabogota (at) mosaicoba (dot) org or call, 311 223 1487

------------

Mandinga en Colombia 2008
Mestre Cobra Mansa
Octubre 31, Noviembre 1, 2

Cronograma de Actividades

Viernes 31 – 2PM
Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano Cr. 4A #22-61
Rueda de Apertura

5:30 – Registro (inscripciones hasta el jueves 30)

6-9PM
Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano Cr. 4A #22-61
Taller Movimiento y Música

Sábado 1 8:30AM – 12:30PM
Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano Cr. 4A #22-61
Taller Movimiento, Música
Conversatorio

2-6PM
Universidad Javeriana Centro Deportivo Cr. 7ª # 40-62
Taller Música, Movimiento y Rueda

6-8PM
Universidad Javeriana Cr. 7ª # 40-62
Documental “Mandinga em Manhattan – como se expandió la capoeira por el mundo”

Domingo 2 10AM – 3PM
Parque Nacional Cr. 7ª entre Calles 35 y 39
Taller y Rueda Abierta

4-5PM
Parque Nacional Cr. 7ª entre Calles 35 y 39
Presentación Tambor de Criola de Maranhao– Jon Mario

6-7PM
Parque Nacional Cr. 7ª entre Calles 35 y 39
Documental “Orixas da Bahia” Cinelibertad

Inscripciones tendrán que ser realizadas hasta el Jueves 30
Para poder ingresar a los talleres necesitamos Nombre completo y numero de Cédula. Para inscripciones por favor contactar a Patricia - 300 577 4314 o Aengee - 315 403 5969

Para más información: ficabogota (arroba) mosaicoba (punto) org 311 223 1487

London, UK: Kabula International Conference

Information on an upcoming event in London:

I Kabula International Conference
Celebrating Besouro Preto - Story, Myth and Identity in Capoeira
_______________
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Who was this capoeirista and where in his story is the line between truth and myth?
Mystery still shrouds one of the most skillful and enigmatic sons of Capoeira. Besouro, the Black Beetle of the town of Santo Amaro, in the Bay of All the Saints, Bahia. From feats of rebellion to fantastical stories of metamorphosis comes the truth of one of the Black heroes of Modern Brazil.

Kabula invites you to celebrate the man and explore the story that is Besouro Preto

:: Special Guests Capoeira ::

Mestre Braga :: Geneve Rio de Janeiro :: GRUPO AFRICA BANTU
Mestre Russo :: Rio de Janeiro Duque de Caxias :: GRUPO COSMOS
Mestre Carlão :: London Rio de Janeiro :: KABULA ARTS & CULTURE
Mestre Boca do Rio :: Santiago de Compostela Salvador :: GRUPO N'ZINGA
Mestre Paulo Siqueira :: Hamburgo Hannover Rio de Janeiro :: CAPOEUROPA
Mestre Joãozinho da Figueira :: Londres Maputo Manaus :: GRUPO MARAZUL
Professor William :: Manchester Leeds Belo Horizonte :: ACCA - Associação Cultural de Capoeira Angola
Professoras Rejane / Rilene :: Londres Fortaleza :: GRUPO AMAZONAS

:: Special Guest Percussion ::

Master Percussionist from Rio de Janeiro Mestre Pedro Lima will be again with us in London for a long season and he is bringing his natural energy and vibe to teach the most fantastic rhythms from Afro-Brazilian Oral-Rhythmic traditions: for the workshops bring agogos, drums, berimbaus, pandeiros and as many rhythm you have in your backpack ... you will need them.

Pedro Lima on YOU TUBE:
Jongo Diminuto - Mestre Messias dos Santos & Pedro Lima :: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1wSHmMRLkg
Batucadas Brasileiras - Orquestra Robertinho Silva :: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuTSyVWFGv8&feature=related

... and other guests from London and UK.

Opening Night :: Thursday the 27th, Nov ::
O ZELADOR* Film Screening with Mestre Russo and Director Daren Bartlett + Q & A

OTHER PROGRAMED ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE FRIDAY & SATURDAY 28/29th (schedule to be confirmed):

- Films, Lectures, Rodas, Workshops, Afro-Brazilian Percussion, Brazilian Party with DJ and serious alive percussion.
- Dr Matthias Röhrig Assunção* - Lecture: Besouro Preto and Capoeira in Bahia during the first half of the XX Century.
- Capoeira for Performers - Lecture
- Alternative & complementary therapies (booking needed) :: Ostheopaty, Reiki and Shiatsu with specialists.

More info coming soon: program, venues, costs, timetable and etc.

:: We will give discount to groups and those who pay before November the 10th. We strongly advice you to contact us in advance for booking as there are limited space for all activities ::

Costs ::

1st day Nov 27th :: Opening + Special Guest: Mestre Russo will be @ film screening (O Zelador) + Q & A + Roda :: £10

Workshop days :: Nov 28th, 29th & 30th

Option 1 :: 2 days £35
Option 2 :: 3 days £45
Option 3 :: 4* days £55 (*including the 1st day)

- Non-members :: payments in advance till November the 10th will get £5 discount for the Options 1, 2 or 3. (Please contact us @ info@kabula.org)
- Kabula members :: £45 for the Option 3 or £5 discount for the Options 1 or 2.
- Groups of 6+ :: £40 for the Option 3 or £25 Option 1 / £35 Option 2

More info about the Conference soon @ www.kabula.org / info@kabula.org

Contacts: info@kabula.org Mob. 07913993453

(*Dr Matthias Assunção will introduce to the capoeira at the time of Besouro. He’ll explain the social and cultural background of Bahian society, based on sugar cane plantations and small towns around the Bay of All the Saints as well as focus on the central role of the Salvador harbour for the development of capoeira. He will contrast the art as it was practiced during the first decades of the 20th century with its contemporary forms, and summarize recent research by historians on the biography of Besouro).

Enjoy.

Salvador, Brazil: Capoeira Music Festival & Competition

Ok, folks. Its time to show the world what you are made of musically. This is going to be very cool:

II Encounter of Current and Traditional Capoeira Music

Presents

II Festival of Ladanha, Corrida, Quadra & Chula

Competition categories:
Ladainha
Corrido
Quadra
Chula

Top prize in each category: R$600,00 (six hundred bones)

Last day to enter: October 30, 2008
This is also the last day that entries may be posted to Sedex.

Final selection:
Friday, November 7 – 6 pm
Praça Tereza Batista – Pelourinho

Saturday, November 8 – 4 pm
Praça Tereza Batista – Pelourinho

Selection criteria:

Ladainha: following the traditional format of the mestres of Capoeira Angola, Pastinha, Waldemar, Traíra, among others

Corrido: Within the poetic and melodic standards of the corridos of Mestre Pastinha and Mestre Bimba and other mestres of the 1960s.

Quadra or Chula: as Mestre Bimba called them in Regional

Rules:
All the music must be new, previously unreleased and not recorded
Each participant may submit one entry per category

Entry form:
!. The entry form should be filled out and signed (it may be downloaded here or it is available in hardcopy form at the places mentioned below)
2. Copy of your RG & CPF
3. CD of the music and four copies of the lyrics

Entries should be sent to:
Casa dos Instrumentos da Coleção Emília Biancardi
Rua Gregório de Mattos, 31
Centro Histórico

Projeto Mandinga
Instituto Jair Moura
Rua Comendador José Alves Ferreira, 170
Garcia

For more information:
(71) 8847-0925 or 8732-2476
colecaoemiliabiancardi (at) gmail (dot) com

Sponsors:
Instrumentos Musicais Tradicionais Coleção Emília Biancardi & Instituto Jair Moura.

To access the registration form and for more information about the collection, plus biographies of Mestre Pastinha & Mestre Bimba, check out their very interesting website (in Portuguese).

Good luck to everyone participating!

London, UK: Workshop with Mestre Roberval

Information on an upcoming workshop in London:

Hi Everyone,

We have invited M. Roberval from Filhos de Angola Group in Salvador to do a Master Class in Kabula @ The Arcola theatre. The class will happen in October the 28th from 7 to 9:30pm and all are very welcome to go there.

Roberval is one of the most talented Mestres that I have met from Salvador and he teaches in a very special way. So, I really hope that you can be there with us.

Cost: £10 / £8 Kabula associates and concession

Please, do not hesitate in contact us to ask for more info.

M. Carlao (Alex)
07913993453

Dia das Crianças in Massaranduba

On October 11, following the FICA Saturday morning roda, a group of capoeiristas headed over to the Massaranduba neighborhood to celebrate Dia das Crianças (Day of the Children) with the students at Grucom, where FICA has maintained a class for many years.

Here are some pictures to give you an idea of how much fun everyone had. The kids are really great and they loved having all the big people there to play. At the end of the roda they all got presents (not a bad way to end a roda...)

Currently, Adriana is leading the class in Massaranduba on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. If you have the time, stop by. You will be happy you did.

Thanks to Gata Russa for the additional photos.

History in the Making as the Past Continues to Haunt Us

As recent economic tides demonstrate, what happens in the United States- for good or for bad- resounds deeply around the world.

Intrinsic to the future of the world economy, the 2008 U.S presidential race electrified the world even before the banking crisis hit. In Brazil, the potential of a black man at the helm of its powerful and influential northern neighbor - and truly the world- has caused great excitement.

The Bahian newspaper Folha de Salvador recently asked some prominent black leaders in the community to reflect on what a black American president would mean for Brazil. Here's what they had to say:

Lázaro Passos Cunha (Director of Projects, Steve Biko Cultural Institute)
“Brazilian society has always accused the United States of practicing a more radical racism than exists here, but Brazil is a much more exclusive nation. With the election of Obama, I believe that the changes, in terms of our nation, will come about through pressures that will be put upon the elites that question the politics of affirmative action such as the implementation of quotas in the universities, but are not concerned about the quality of our public elementary schools."

Cláudia Santos (Professor of Ethnic African Studies and militant of the newspaper Irohín – which means “news” in Yoruba)
“The idea of a black president is something that has already been considered in our society since the beginning of the last century. The 1926 novel The Black President by Monteiro Lobato touched upon the possibility of the rise of a black man in the political arena. Lobato chose the year 2228 for his character to campaign and win the presidency of the United States. Today, we see Obama as a revision of all the stereotypes of ineptitude associated with being black and this is the fruit of the public political process. He is an inspiration for us in all senses, but we are part of a different history. It is necessary that we recognize and valorize our origins and fight to strengthen our ethnic-racial debates at the center of our political discussions so that we have a chance to arrive at that point."

Gilvan Assunção (Founder of UNEGRO – Union of Blacks for Equality, União de Negros pela Igualdade)
“Obama is a man who is rising but maintaining one foot on the floor, avoiding to become a star. He was able to surpass all the accusations that they made against him unscathed. Today, he is qualified to be a great leader of blacks all over the world. Even though he has not won the presidency, he is already a very positive influence, in large part for the youth. In our movement here in Brazil we are on the right path but we cannot reflect upon ourselves only in that which they are doing outside the country. We need to be aggressive because things here are a bit slow, due to the historical process in which blacks were placed.

Antônio Carlos dos Santos, Vovô (Founder and President of the Bloco Afro Ilê Ayê)
“The visibility that he [Obama] has due to the fact that he may be the first black man to govern a major world power certainly makes us re-think our situation. However, we have a culture that prejudges us and it needs to be changed; many blacks still suffer under mental slavery and do not vote for the black candidate. In South Africa, when given the opportunity to vote for a black man, they elected Mandela and changed their situation. Here, we have always had this instrument, but we don’t know how to use it. It is embedded in our culture to believe that only whites can solve our problems.”

You can read the whole article here (in Portuguese).

And despite the progress in the United States, the fact that a letter like this needs to be printed in a major American newspaper shows we still have a long long way to go. Thanks to Njoli for the link.

More Pictures from Washington, DC Embassy Event

Here are some more images from the Brazilian embassy's celebration of the registration of capoeira as a cultural patrimony that was held in Washington, DC in September.

Enjoy!

The pre-celebration Friday night roda at FICA-DC:

A big thanks to Marshawny for the photos! They're great. Keep them coming.

Campos dos Goitacazes, RJ: Party for M Baianinho

Grupo de Capoeira Angola Memorial ao Mestre Dendê invites all Mestres & Contramestres and their students to the Certificate Ceremony and a commemoration of 50 years of Mestre Baianinho.

November 16, 2008
10:00 am

E.E. José do Patrocinio.
Rua Cora de Alvarenga PQ Leopoldina
Campos dos Goitacazes

Contact: (22)99332284 (21)96819138

Celebrating M Janja's Birthday in Salvador

Last Friday, the place to be was the Alto de Sereia in Rio Vermelho to celebrate Mestre Janja's birthday. Mestre Paulinha and Poloca were in attendance along with lots of Nzinga folks and capoeiristas from all different groups across Bahia, including Angoleiros da Serra, Grupo Zimba, and FICA.

The party started with a roda during which M Janja played nearly everyone. After, we had a party that was thrown by the kids of Nzinga. They decorated the space and saved up to buy lots of brigadeiros, salgadinhos, refri, and a big strawberry cake.

It was a great party. Congratulations, M Janja. Here's to many more.

** And here is what Meste Poloca had to say about it on his blog:

Last Friday, October 3, Grupo Nzinga held a roda with the presence of many invited guests to start the celebrations for yet another year of Mestra Janja. It was a beautiful roda followed by a great party with a cake and lots of guaraná. The kids had a great time and I did too.

On the following day, the 4th, Janja’s actual birthday, she went to her home town of Feira de Santana to celebrate with her family. She was born on the same day as her brother, although not in the same year. She was born the following year. For twelve years she lived in São Paulo and in part for the Nzinga, she became a citizen of São Paulo. In June 2006, she returned to Bahia.

Over the past few months, she served as a Professor of Education at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBa) until she was invited by Secretary Luiza Bairros to be a part of her governing team, where she co-ordinates one of the departments of the Secretary of the Promotion of Racial Equality (Secretaria da Promoção da Igualdade Racial, Sepromi ). She already was a powerful woman, now no one can stand in her way. In another post, we talked about the nomination of Mestre Paulinha for the direction of the Center for Afro-Oriental Studies at UFBa, a post she will assume on October 22. To sum it up, the mestras of Nzinga have it all. Who can stop them now?

Thanks M Poloca. What an amazing resource he is creating. And thanks to Fabio for the link.

Se O Vento Vir Mais Forte...

This ladainha appeared in the April 1999 issue of Canarinho, a newsletter that was put out by the FICA-Rio group. It was written by Contramestre Urubu of Grupo Aluande Capoeira Angola (then Treineu Urubu of FICA-Rio).

Iê…
Vou entrar numa igreja
Vou entrar numa igreja, colega velho
Vou fazer minha oração
Vou pedir benção ao padre
Nosso Senhor o meu perdão
Para ser bom angoleiro, oi iaiá
E não dá meu golpe em vão
Se o vento vir mais forte
Se o vento vir mais forte
Não poder me balançar
Mas também se eu cair, ai meu Deus
Pra aprender se leventar, camará

Nice!

If there is a ladainha you would like to share (especially one that you have written), send it to: ficadcarchives (at) gmail (dot) com, and we'll post it.

Milan, Italy: Details on M Jogo de Dentro Workshops

Ooooooo! A message from Leonardo diCaprios. Who knew he was an angoleiro?

Salve camaradas!

Grupo Semente do Jogo de Angola-Milan in collaboration with the Umaniter Foundation has the pleasure of inviting you to participate in:

I Encounter Vem Jogar Mais Eu - Capoeira Me Chamou

with the illustrious Mestre Jogo de Dentro

November 3 - 9, 2008

Click here for the full program and registration details.

Muita Vadiaçao, Cultura e Camaradagem!

Todos sao muito bem vindos

Um grande abraço e muito axé

Leonardo ‘Dicaprios’

+39 389.1625394
llrossi79 (at) yahoo (dot) it

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Salve camaradas!

Il Gruppo Semente do Jogo de Angola – Milano, in collaborazione con la Fondazione Humaniter, ha il piacere di invitarvi a partecipare al:

1° Vem Jogar Mais Eu – la capoeira mi chiama

Con l’illustre Mestre Jogo de Dentro e invitati

Muita Vadiaçao, Cultura e Camaradagem!

Trovate in allegato il programma dell’evento e le modalità di partecipazione.

www.sementedojogodeangola.org.br

Todos sao muito bem vindos

Um grande abraço e muito axé

Leonardo ‘Dicaprios’

+39 389.1625394
llrossi79 (at) yahoo (dot) it

Thanks, Leonardo. You're dreamy.

São Paulo, Brazil: More Details on November Workshops

More details on the November workshops in São Paulo:

I Encounter of the Grupo de Estudo de Capoeira Angola FICA-São Paulo
Kusanga Kia Muijí / Encontro de Família

November 20 – 23, 2008

With the presence of FICA Mestres:
Mestre Cobra Mansa e Mestre Valmir

along with the illustrious presence of:
Mestre Bigo (Francisco 45) – Student of Mestre Pastinha - SP
Mestre Ananias – SP
Mestre Paulo Brasa – RJ
Aloan – FICA - Bahia – BA

Capoeira Angola & Rhythm Workshops
Video Screenings
Lectures
Samba de Roda

Costs:
Until 10/31 - R$ 100,00
Until 11/14 - R$ 130,00
After 11/15 - R$ 150,00

Registration through bank deposits:
Banco Bradesco
Agência: 1193-2 Conta Corrente: 42718-7
Titular: Tabatta Ventura

Send the receipt by fax or email:
FoneFax: 55 (011) 4178-2033
Email: tabatta_morena (at) hotmail (dot) com

Contact: Womualy: 55 (11) 9840-2314

Many thanks to Womauly for the information.

Salvador, Brazil: Feijoada at Acanne

Feijoada da Acanne
O Saber do Sabor Ancestral

November 29, 2008
10 am - Roda de Capoeira Angola
12:30 - Feijoada & Samba de roda

place:
Acanne
Rua do Sodre, 40
Dois de Julho
telephone: 9146- 5999

Important: Everyone should bring their own bowl.

Thanks, Serg.

Stockholm, Sweden: Workshops with Mestre Valmir

Information on upcoming workshops in November:

Capoeira Angola Workshops
7- 9 November 2008
Stockholm

with Mestre Valmir
Fundacao Internacional Capoeira Angola - Salvador

Mestre Valmir is not just famous for his capoeira, but also for his mission to turn young students from high risk areas into good leaders. In 2005 he visited sweden as part of the project O Pulo do Gato - Hoppa som Katten together with two young capoeiristas Idjaie & Yuka from Massaranduba, an under-privileged area outside Salvador to taslk about capoeira and young peoples situation in those areas. This time Mestre Valmir is going to visit schools at the suburb Tensta. We are looking forward to see you too!

Open for everybody. All ages & all skills.
Friday 18.00 - 21.00 Sofia Skola, Skånegatan 117
Saturday & Sunday 10.00- 17.00 Tensta Träff & Blå Huset/Tensta
Evening program Friday & Saturday with dinner, video etc.
Ask for program:
ficasweden (at) yahoo (dot) se

To participate:
Registrate before 1 November by paying 650 skr (sleeping place included)
at pg: 836 07 13-5 Capoeira Angola Stockholm.

People living outside of sweden can pay upon arrival. (please complete your registration)
Without registration: 750 skr at door (we cannot guarantee a space to sleep)
Registration & program:
ficasweden (at) yahoo (dot) se

Fundacao Internacional Capoeira Angola - Sweden

Bogota, Colombia: Mandingando com M Cobra Mansa

Mandinga en Colombia
October 16 – 20, 08
Bogota

with Mestre Cobra Mansa
special guest Cineasta Lazaro Faria, Mandinga em Manhattan, Cidade das Mulheres, Orixás da Bahia

16, Samba
17, 6 – 9 pm Capoeira Angola
18, 8:30 am – 6 pm Capoeira Angola Conference
19, 10 am – 6 pm Rueda (Roda!)

info: 311 223 1487
ficabogota (at) mosaicoba.org

Thanks to Fabricio for the information. Looks great.

Helsinki, Finland: Workshops with Mestre Valmir

A note about upcoming workshops with Mestre Valmir from the FICA-Helsinki group:

Oi camaradas!

Welcome to M. Valmir's Capoeira Angola workshop in 24.-26.10.2008. Unfortunately we have to limit number of participants so it is better to register in advance. Please, bring your own instruments if possible and dress up properly (shoes, trousers and t-shirt). Also let us know if you need accommodations.

Place:
Roihuvuoren nuorisotalo, Prinssintie 1, 00820 Helsinki
(busses 80 and 82 from Herttoniemi subway station)

Schedule:
Friday 24.10. 18:00 - 22:00
Saturday 25.10. 12:00 - 19:00
Sunday 26.10. 12:00 - 19:00

Price:
60 euros for the whole workshop
OR
20 euros Friday
30 euros Saturday
30 euros Sunday

Registration and information:
tapani (at) capoeira-angola (dot) fi
+358-50-3780292

Welcome!!!

Tapani Suihkonen
FICA Helsinki

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Oi camaradas!

Tervetuloa M. Valmirin Capoeira Angola workshoppiin 24.-26.10.2008. Valitettavasti paikkoja on rajoitetusti, joten on parasta ilmoittautua ajoissa. Olkaa hyvät ja tuokaa omat soittimet mikäli mahdollista ja ottakaa mukaan asialliset treenivarusteet (kengät, housut ja t-paita). Ilmoittakaa myös jos tarvitsette majoituksen.

Paikka:
Roihuvuoren nuorisotalo, Prinssintie 1, 00820 Helsinki
(bussit 80 ja 82 Herttoniemen metroasemalta)

Aikataulu:
Perjantai 24.10. 18:00 ? 22:00
Lauantai 25.10. 12:00 ? 19:00
Sunnuntai 26.10. 12:00 ? 19:00

Hinta:
60 euroa koko workshop
TAI
20 euroa perjantai
30 euroa lauantai
30 euroa sunnuntai

Ilmoittautuminen ja lisätiedot:
tapani@capoeira-angola.fi
+358-50-3780292

Tervetuloa!!!

Tapani Suihkonen
FICA Helsinki

Have fun!