Capoeira

The meaning of the name "capoeira" also has several definitions. Ka'a ("mata") e pûer ("que foi") , means "clearing in the bush", "low bush" in Tupy Guarany. Also, "capoeira" meant a basket of sticks, where birds, capons, chickens, etc. were kept. It is said that the slaves, when taking poultry cages to sell, while waiting for the market to open, had fun playing capoeira.

References: A Origem do nome CAPOEIRA | Portal Capoeira 

The first records about the birth of Capoeira have not yet been discovered, but there are images from the 19th century that show playful moments during parties and celebrations, where people clap their hands, sing and dance.

However, these demonstrations are a freedom of expression of the human being, and involves several cultural, religious, artistic and political aspects. Specifically in the 19th century between the Colonial period and the beginning of the Republic, Capoeira became prohibited and added to the penal code in 1890 and then Capoeira and all other displays practiced by the enslaved such as, Samba, Batuque, Candomblé were also banned and criminalized. Maybe it was through their sorrow that the enslaved found motivation and strength to figure out new strategies to continue their fight for freedom, even in the face of being sentenced to death for it. 

Many things happened during this process that we do not have perfect information on, because part of this story was erased when some documents were burned by the order of the Minister of Finance Ruy Barbosa on December 14, 1890. 

The resistance of these people remained alive and, in 1937, Capoeira was removed from the penal code. In 1957 President Getúlio Vargas named it the national sport of Brazil. Mestre Bimba and his students were honored and Capoeira officially had its first victory. It was only in 1972 that Capoeira was officially considered a sport by the National Sports Council.

Mestre Bimba, creator of Capoeira Regional, is really an icon that must be respected for being the innovator of Capoeira, showing Capoeira with a learning didactic and as a tool for educational and social inclusion. He was not alone in this, as the other Mestres of that time contributed to the preservation of Capoeira in Brazil.

Mestres Noronha, Livino, Cobra Mansa, Siri de Mangue, Canario Pardo, Totonho de Maré, Aberrê, Espinho Remoso, , Amorzinho, Juvenal, Valdemar da Paixão and many others. Forgive me for the ones I didn't mention here, but they all had great importance. Mestre Pastinha was the Mestre who stood out in giving continuity to traditional Capoeira, better known as Capoeira Angola, which was practiced by Angolans who lived in Salvador.

Capoeira was considered by the Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) as a Brazilian cultural heritage in 2008, and the Capoeira roda is recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). ) in 2014.