A Collision of Cultures in the Brazilian Battle Dance - Capoeira Music

6 chapter
Capoeira and the Appeal to Supernatural Powers
in african cultures, including those of the Congo and angola, there was no real
dichotomy between sacred and profane, religion and diversion, and no activity
was perceived as specifically secular. every event—recreation, competition, or
sheer fun—included elements of religious ritual. success depended first of all on
placating the gods and the ancestors, and on “medicine” and the invocation of
supernatural powers. every event was accompanied by singing, playing musical
instruments, and other activities that facilitated contact with the spirit world.102
slaves brought these traditions and customs to Brazil and continued to perform
rituals and ceremonies, to play and dance at their social events. to survive their
enslavement and because their movements and social contacts were restricted,
they resorted to their traditional remedies—amulets, incantations, and curses.
Most of the documentation from that period was written by whites—lawyers,
travelers, and officials—members of the ruling class who were ignorant of african
traditions. Many of them saw the slaves as uncivilized illiterates and took no
interest in them. others adamantly objected to any cultural expression by blacks,
which they construed as depraved or as a cover-up for conspiracy to rebel. Many
activities were either covert or disguised, and what was observed was sometimes
colored by vested interests, bias, or ignorance. some details may have been considered
unimportant or irrelevant and omitted by those who wrote about them.
Because of these inadequacies, we must turn to more modern sources. anthropological
analysis of the beliefs, customs, and rituals among the Capoeiras may
at last shed light on their symbols and rituals in early-nineteenth-century Brazil
and reveal their meaning.
CaPoeira Clothing and Colors
from police reports of the period, it seems that typical capoeira garments included
a hat and colored ribbons. on december 13, 1814, “José Cabinda, slave
of Joaquim José portela, and antônio, slave of the monk Manuel da natividade,
were arrested for playing capoeira and wearing colored ribbons.”103 The slave
Bernardo Moçambique was arrested on March 14, 1815, for “playing capoeira,
possessing a razor, and tying a red ribbon to a pole in santa rita square.”104
Three days later, João Congo, a slave belonging to francisco reis de Lima pinto,
was arrested for playing capoeira and for possessing a knife, a cane, and ribbons.105
in 1818 José rebolo, alexandre pinho’s slave, was arrested for playing
capoeira and for “wearing a white straw hat with a big yellow and red ribbon
tied to its crown [copa].”106 according to other records, on february 28, 1820,
francisco rebolo, slave of José pereira Guimarães, and José Ganguela, slave of