Capoeira Angola and its relations with the myth of Brazilian racial democracy

Abstract

Capoeira is a cultural manifestation widely known as part of Brazilian identity and culture both by Brazilians and foreigners. Nevertheless, for being originally a black popular culture, it must be understood in relation to the dominant culture, where elements of resistance and consent are present (HALL, 2013). In the nineteenth and in the beginning of the twentieth century, capoeira was strongly repressed by the State, driving the blacks away from the construction of national identity based on racial and ethnic grounds (REIS, 2000). In the 30's, a new narrative of Brazilian identity, known as Brazilian racial democracy, treasured the cultural and biological integration of the three existing races in Brazil (SCHWARZ, 2012; MUNANGA, 1996). Along with other cultural and religious manifestations, capoeira is now valued and integrated into the State (PIRES, 2010). The text aims at raising aspects that allow a reappraisal of how the Angola capoeira relates to racial and ethnic issues, based on questioning the myth of racial democracy and the contribution of cultural studies (MUNANGA, 1996; CARONE; BENTO, 2002; HALL, 2013).