Capoeira, a Brazilian battle dance and national sport, has become popular all over the world. First brought to Brazil by African slaves and first documented in the late eighteenth century, capoeira has undergone many transformations as it has diffused throughout Brazilian society and beyond, taking on a multiplicity of meanings for those who participate in it and for the societies in which it is practiced. In this book, Maya Talmon-Chvaicer combines cultural history with anthropological research to offer an in-depth study of the development and meaning of capoeira, starting with the African cultures in which it originated and continuing up to the present day. Using a wealth of primary sources, Talmon-Chvaicer analyzes the outlooks on life, symbols, and rituals of the three major cultures that inspired capoeira-the Congolese (the historic area known today as Congo-Angola), the Yoruban, and the Catholic Portuguese cultures. As she traces the evolution of capoeira through successive historical eras, Talmon-Chvaicer maintains a dual perspective, depicting capoeira as it was experienced, observed, and understood by both Europeans and Africans, as well as by their descendants. This dual perspective uncovers many covert aspects of capoeira that have been repressed by the dominant Brazilian culture. This rich study reclaims the African origins and meanings of capoeira, while also acknowledging the many ways in which Catholic-Christian culture has contributed to it. The book will be fascinating reading not only for scholars but also for capoeira participants who may not know the deeper spiritual meanings of the customs, amulets, and rituals of this jogo da vida, "game of life."

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1. A Rio de Janeiro Slave Game Chapter 2. The Battle and the Game (1840s-1870s) Chapter 3. Patrons and Oppressors (1870s-1930s) Chapter 4. New Center, New Style: Capoeira Regional and Capoeira Angola in Twentieth-Century Bahia Chapter 5. The Game of Life: Battle of Cultures Epilogue Notes Glossary Bibliography Index

Author Biography

Maya Talmon-Chvaicer is an independent scholar in Toronto, Canada. She holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Haifa.