500 years of resistance
The history of capoeira
From the senzalas to UNESCO. Stories, mestres, music and culture.
Timeline
1500s
African enslaved peoples arrive in Brazil — capoeira is born in resistance.
1890
Capoeira is criminalised by the Brazilian penal code.
1932
Mestre Bimba opens the first official academy in Salvador.
1937
Capoeira is legalised under Getúlio Vargas.
1941
Mestre Pastinha opens the Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola.
2014
UNESCO declares capoeira an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Featured articles
Origins
The Origins of Capoeira
From the senzalas of colonial Brazil to a global art form recognised by UNESCO.
Mestre Pintado·8 min
Mestres
Mestre Bimba and the Birth of Regional
How one mestre revolutionised capoeira and turned it into a respected discipline.
Contramestra Luana·6 min
Music
The Berimbau: Heart of the Roda
Why the single-string instrument commands the entire roda — and how to read its toques.
Mestre Boa Voz·5 min