“I finally understand Capoeira Angola, as an idea, not a style! It adds values that defines it as a way, an ideal, a cause, an action linked directly to social causes, to the union of the excluded, to the cry of the humble, to the voice of the commoners and all those in need of discernment…”
The following text was written by Mestre Pinóquio and forwarded to the CBC email list by Mestre Cobrinha Mansa. It criticises some attitudes of some people in Capoeira Angola, and calls practitioners to reflect upon important issues. I was granted permission to translate it as far as published integrally. For this reason I’ll post my comments on another entry.
Mestre Pinóquio – capoeira_(dot)_mestrepinoquio_(at)_iol_(dot)_pt
Axé! Eurico
“I finally understand Capoeira Angola, as an idea, not a style! It adds values that defines it as a way, an ideal, a cause, an action linked directly to social causes, to the union of the excluded, to the cry of the humble, to the voice of the commoners and all those in need of discernment; regardless of style, which is already ours, inherent, once we express in movement what we are.
We need to change the current concept that Capoeira Angola is the style of the old Folks, of the slow, of Capoeira without the combativeness, of the ‘jogo embaixo’, only. Capoeira Angola is all that and much more. Indeed, it’s the old folk’s idea, not their style. We are inheriting this whole idea of the elders, and we’re loosing this idea due to our lack of discernment, responsibility, commitment, and attitude.
We have to train, to study, to train, to read, to train, to experience, to train and train, in order to change this ridiculous concept that is leading us all to other ramifications. We must really turn Capoeira Angola into a philosophy, a commitment so that we can moralise it. Enough of being unfair. Being Capoeira Angola the one fighting the system, we are naturally excluded from the media, making our ideas even more hidden.
I think that is the identity of the capoeira from the Island in which we aggregate to Capoeira Angola all these values of playing low, high, in the middle, flying. In which berimbaus bristle our hairs and the ladainha mutes those who listen. In which the Mastre still holds authority without being authoritarian, without excluding other people because they are not wearing belts or shoes. In order to give exposure, to attract people to share this idea called Angola and bring it moralised to the streets we need to practice it with trickery, retribution, education, toughness, endurance, cultural discernment, commitment and lots of training.
I feel that students and even some of the elders do not feel proud of the style. They eventually give up; discouraging future angoleiros. Ecletic Rodas, each one with its own style within an idea called Angola, everyone collaborating with what is possible to them, and taking from the art what they need to carry on with their lives; without stereotyping feeling, movements, and thoughts.
This idea that I call Angola is the strength, is the way. We shall not distort neither allow misrepresentations that creates another concept that nothing will contribute to the clarification of all this slavish structure that is oppressing us everywhere.
We must be proud of who we are!
Sou Angoleiro, sim senhor!
Mestre Pinóquio
The following text was written by Mestre Pinóquio ( capoeira (dot) mestrepinoquio (at) iol (dot) pt
) and forwarded to the CBC email list by Mestre Cobrinha Mansa. It criticises some attitudes of some people in Capoeira Angola, and calls practitioners to reflect upon important issues. I was granted permission to translate it as far as published integrally. For this reason I’ll post my comments on another entry.
Axé! Eurico
“I finally understand Capoeira Angola, as an idea, not a style!
It adds values that define it as a way, an ideal, a cause, an action linked directly to social causes, to the union of the excluded, to the cry of the humble, to the voice of the commoners and all those in need of discernment; regardless of style, which is already ours, inherent, once we express in movement what we are.
We need to change the current concept that Capoeira Angola is the style of the old folks, of the slow, of Capoeira without the combativeness, of the ‘jogo embaixo’, only. Capoeira Angola is all that and much more. Indeed, it’s the old folks’ idea, not their style. We are inheriting this whole idea of the elders, and we’re loosing this idea due to our lack of discernment, responsibility, commitment, and attitude.
We have to train, to study, to train, to read, to train, to experience, to train and train, in order to change this ridiculous concept that is leading us all to other ramifications. We must really turn Capoeira Angola into a philosophy, a commitment so that we can moralise it. Enough of being unfair. Being Capoeira Angola the one fighting the system, we are naturally excluded from the media, making our ideas even more hidden.
I think that is the identity of the capoeira from the Island in which we aggregate to Capoeira Angola all these values of playing low, high, in the middle, flying. In which berimbaus bristle our hairs and the ladainha mutes those who listen. In which the Mastre still holds authority without being authoritarian, without excluding other people because they are not wearing belts or shoes. In order to give exposure, to attract people to share this idea called Angola and bring it moralised to the streets we need to practice it with trickery, retribution, education, toughness, endurance, cultural discernment, commitment and lots of training.
I feel that students and even some of the elders do not feel proud of the style. They eventually give up discouraging future angoleiros. Eclectic Rodas, each with its own style within an idea called Angola, where everyone collaborates with what one has and takes from it what is necessary to carry on with their lives. Without stereotyping feelings, movements, and thoughts.
This idea that I call Angola is the strength, is the way. We shall not distort neither allow misrepresentations that creates another concept that nothing will contribute to the clarification of all this slavish structure that is oppressing us everywhere.
We must be proud of who we are!
Sou Angoleiro, sim senhor!
Mestre Pinóquio.
omg what a load of crap that is!
Sven, I suggest you participate with more education and respect.
If you have concrete critics you’re more than welcome to post them, otherwise, please show more consideration for other people’s work.
Axé!
It’s as if someone who’s always eaten pears finds out that there are apples that taste good too. Well the news is: the apples have been there for a long time, eaten by young and old, loved and treasured as a source of daily vitamine just as a doctor would perscribe.
He doesn’t know what he’s saying
That really resonates with a lot of conversations I’ve been having about Angola recently. Especially when he speaks about the philosophy and intention of Angola as being perhaps its defining characteristic.
As an Angoleiro who enjoys being out and about in the capoeira world fraternizing with a variety of players I’ve often been uncomfortable with what i saw as an exclusionary tendency and a ‘cannonisation’ of Angola stylistically which doesn’t fit with that inner philosophy as I identify it. (of course – I cant speak for others in that regard)
For me this philosophy importantly includes the transcending of boundaries, hierarchies and pure narrative play edges with a reality check that anyone can fall down if the timings right. Connect, flow, watch out!
The physical movement of Angola for me is an embodiment of that philosophy and any rigid dogma that only encourages caricature and discourages dialogue within itself does it a disservice.
There is room for innovation, speed and even aggression while still working in that framework.
It is a living breathing art form and will of course change and grow so there must be room and range for the young and bouncy as well as the seasoned practitioner and wise Mestre to engage with it and feel a place in its continuing evolution and its history and continue its relevance into the future.
At the same time, I must also give respect to those who have ‘manned the barricades’ defining and in many ways protecting Capoeira Angola from being dissolved and relegated to a set of obscure movements.
It could have happened!
The intensity of those Mestre that kept Angola, or found a return to Angola and made their voice and opinion heard is admirable and so very important even if I disagree with them in some ways.
Its a hard one…