Homage to capoeira takes a rasteira
Carnaval 2008 - Correio da Bahia Newspaper
Source: PortalCapoeira

Capoeira mestres complain of lack of recognition
Excerpts from an article by Flávio Costa, Correio da Bahia newspaper.
Source: PortalCapoeira

The theme of “capoeira and its culture” got little exposure at Carnaval 2008, which sparked complaints from mestres and practitioners.

Despite being elected by popular vote as the theme of Carnaval, the mixture of fight and dance did not receive much representation or support from public powers during the event. For many, the art created by Brazilian slaves ended up being excluded yet again.

With the theme of Capoeira and its culture, the city and state governments intended to honor the art during the period of carnival. But mestres and students complained that the presence of capoeira in the festivities was minimal. The only capoeira in the parade was in a single Carnaval bloc – Mangangá – which received sponsorship of close to R$50 thousand from public powers. And the capoeira-associated decoration was limited to just the Pelourinho.

The choosing of capoeira as the theme for this year’s Carnaval was done via the internet in December. At the time, Mestres João Pequeno and Decânio were selected as the representatives, since they were students of the two most important figures of the capoeira world: Mestres Pastinha (capoeira angola) and Bimba (capoeira regional).

Mestre Decânio says, “I telephoned the Tourism Office to ask about the details: whether there would be a parade, if we would give a presentation, and they didn’t have an answer. It was so disorganized.”

Mestre João Pequeno, 90 years old, lives in a modest house in a peripheral neighborhood. His granddaughter, also a capoeirista, remarks, “They invited us, but didn’t settle any of the details. A capoeira mestre must be respected, because he is also an artist. My grandfather brings the name of Bahia everywhere he goes, and each year dozens of students from outside Brazil come here just to meet him.”

The main complaints are the lack of capoeira-themed decorations, the small amount of representation during the event, and the ignoring of the most important mestres, who did not receive any type of recognition.

Mestre Curió was hoping for banners around the city with photos of the wise capoeiristas who made a mark in the history of capoeira, artwork depicting the main movements of the art, and wide media coverage of the theme of Carnaval 2008. But he was disappointed. “It is a big disrespect of capoeira. Honoring the art – what a lie.”

The president of the Carnival Council states that a decoration project was given to the Artists’ Association of Bahia, but it was considered nonviable, since the Tourism Office said it was unable to provide the R$1.5 million required to complete the project.

He states that alternatives were considered, but failed for the same reason: lack of financial resources. “We were frustrated by not having decoration. We wanted the whole city to be beautiful for Carnaval, but there was no way to do it.”

Misael Tavares, the president of the Tourism Office, said that there were no funds to support the project, and no time to take a public vote on the matter. “I would also like for the city to be decorated with a capoeira theme, but we are dealing with public monies. I could not approve a project of over R$1 million without having a public vote. Even so, Tavares thinks that capoeira will have some visibility during Carnaval, because of Tonho Matéria’s bloco. “We can’t please all the capoeiristas.”

Ignoring the mestres

Capoeiristas call the relationship between the government and capoeira/Bahian culture “a divorce.” Mestre Boa Gente, saw it as disrespectful of black culture, the small participation and little emphasis of the theme during Carnaval. “It’s because the government is Evangelical, so it’s against the blackness of the people of this city, which is very sad,” he said. He also complained about the lack of recognition for the most important mestres such as João Pequeno de Pastinha, Curió, Boca Rica, Decânio, Pelé da Bomba, and others.

“We don’t want money, we want recognition, and also a space to make presentations and spread capoeira,” explained Boa Gente. He added that some groups from peripheral neighborhoods asked the government for transportation or financial help to arrive at the location where they were supposed to do shows, but they were ignored. Vivaldo says that they were even denied a car to take mestre João Pequeno (90 years old) to a hotel where he would receive an award.

“When João Pequeno requested transportation for himself and two people accompanying him, the government said it was not available. That is absurd; he is 90 years old and one of the most important mestres alive,” Boa Gente commented. He also believes that the singers and the press are at fault. “No one ever spoke about the theme of Carnaval: neither the singers nor the journalists. Durval Lelys came dressed as a cowboy, Xanddy came as a military commander, but NO ONE wore the traditional clothes of capoeira, which is part of our culture,” he complained.

A few African blocs had capoeiristas performing, in addition to the City Bloco organized by the State Secretary of Culture, which had a roda during its part of the parade. There were also spontaneous capoeira rodas among the people, in streets alongside the official circuits. In the opinion of capoeirista and sociology student Eduardo Castro, capoeira ended up being “ghetto-ified” once again, but since the was born on the periphery of society, it will be able to “get up from the rasteira” and rise again.

Mestre Nenel, the son of the legendary Mestre Bimba, is not surprised. “Although we are famous outside of Brazil, here in Bahia – the cradle of capoeira – there is still this stink.”

Words from the Mestres

“I support everything related to capoeira, but it needs to be done well. And I am not seeing this happening. There should be posters in the city telling the history of capoeira and of the oldest mestres.” – Mestre Boca Rica, 71

“I really think that it’s a form of racism, of discrimination. A total lack of respect for black culture. I have some students coming from various countries just because capoeira is the theme of Carnaval.” – Mestre Boa Gente, 62

“It’s a crooked way of honoring capoeira. This is not the way it should be done. Capoeira is not just a martial art; it’s a whole philosophy of life, that must be treated with care.” – Mestre Moa do Katendê, 54

“We are tired of getting patted on the back. Tired of seeing capoeira be used for the benefit of those who don’t deserve it. We are treated well everywhere else, but here there is still a prejudice against capoeira.” – Mestre Gildo Alfinete, 68

“What do the government authorities care about the mestres? When have they ever supported our social projects? When we develop activities in a public school, we have to wait months to receive payment. What they’re going to do during Carnaval is use the name of capoeira and not honor it at all.” – Mestre Curió, 71