While strolling through the park in many parts of Brazil, one might happen upon a cultural exhibition known as "capoeira." It is a warrior sport, practiced by men and women of all ages, which has spread throughout the world. The ritual practice takes the form of a circle or semicircle called the capoeira roda, where two practitioners stage a combative bout in nimble movements, fascinating in their beauty and form.

Accompanying each bout is music produced by an ensemble consisting fo a musical bow, or berimbau, conga drums, hollow scrapers, tambourines, woven rattles, whistles, drums, and malimbas. The songs themselves, ditties, quatrains and litanies, are called toadas, quadras, corridos and ladainhas.There are many different styles and tempos for playing the berimbaus that set the pace for capoeira circles.

Practitioners wear articles of clothing - ribbons, sashes or ropes - to indicate their stage of development in capoeira. There are always masters (mestres) present, teaching and guiding all progress in the sport.

Source: Texts from Brazil n.14, produced by the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil.