Capoeira Angola is a manifestation of Central African influences within Brazil. Its essence derives from N’Golo, a rite of passage from Central Africa in which young women are contested over by young warriors. The most able of these men is then entitled to select the wife he desires without paying a dowry.
The word Capoeira has Tupi Guarani (an indigenous language) origins and signifies the clearing of the earth for replanting. The blacks would congregate there to practice N’Golo.
Characteristics of Capoeira Angola
The Angoleiro creates his movements together with those of his adversary in order to achieve a cohesive, unitary game. Aesthetically, the movements are expressive, varied, and functional. Inspired by those of animals, the players’ movements display both freedom and variety, ready to respond to different circumstances within the game, which develop in the manner of an unfolding narrative. The capoeirista demonstrates his superiority within the roda, leading his adversary towards confusion with his dangerous and complex movements.
Many aspects of the human temperament emerge from the players: fear, joy, anger, pride, compassion, and indifference, among others. The players are thus required to possess psychological control for this strategic game in which the game pieces are the players’ own bodies. The capoeiristas must also harmonize the energy of the game with that of the roda; that is, they must play according to the rhythm emerging from the orchestra, and heed the lyrics being intoned by the singer and the chorus.
Wisdom, self-confidence, loyalty, humility, and elegance are among the characteristics, inherited from the ancient practitioners of N’Golo, that qualify the Angoleiro.
The capoeirista must possess mastery over the culture, the traditions, the game, the rhythms of the instruments, and the songs.