Capoeira Angola Glossary
Welcome to our complete Capoeira Angola Glossary. Here you’ll find the most important terms, instruments, movements, and cultural references used in the roda (circle). Each word is explained with its Portuguese origin and English meaning to help both beginners and advanced students.
A
Agogô
The agogô is a metal double- or triple-bell instrument that produces high, metallic tones. Its piercing sound adds a melodic texture to capoeira music, balancing the deep resonance of the atabaque and the guiding pulse of the berimbau .
With African roots, the agogô has long been used in ceremonial and communal contexts. In the roda, its sharp tones punctuate the rhythm, creating moments of emphasis or signaling changes in the flow of the game. For players, the agogô’s ringing acts as both a musical anchor and a reminder of capoeira’s sacred African heritage.
Angola (Capoeira Angola)
Capoeira Angola is considered the most traditional form of capoeira. It emphasizes ritual, strategy, and malícia (trickery) over speed or acrobatics. Movements are slow, deliberate, and close to the ground, encouraging creativity and mental sharpness .
In Capoeira Angola, the roda is a living performance where music, storytelling, and play intertwine. Songs convey history and wisdom, while the game itself becomes a dialogue of body language and cunning. This style is deeply tied to African traditions, functioning as both a martial art and a cultural archive of resistance.
Atabaque
The atabaque is a tall, wooden drum with a skin head, played with the hands. Its sound is strong and resonant, often described as the “heartbeat” of the roda. In a capoeira bateria, there are usually three atabaques: rum (low), rumpi (medium), and lé (high), each adding layers of rhythm .
Beyond capoeira, the atabaque is central in Afro-Brazilian spiritual practices such as candomblé. Its rhythms connect practitioners to ancestral memory and collective energy. In the roda, the drum not only keeps time but also deepens the atmosphere, grounding players and musicians in a shared rhythm that extends beyond the physical game.
Au (Cartwheel)
The au is one of capoeira’s most recognizable movements. Unlike a gymnast’s cartwheel, it is fluid and adaptable, often performed slowly, inverted, or at unusual angles. Players use the au to evade attacks, reposition, or even launch surprise kicks .
The movement also symbolizes capoeira’s philosophy: turning the world upside down, shifting perspective, and blending play with danger. An au can look graceful and harmless, but in the roda it can disguise feints or set up a strike. This dual nature , beauty mixed with cunning , makes the au a signature expression of capoeira’s spirit.
B
Bateria
The bateria is the orchestra that drives capoeira. It typically includes three berimbaus, one or more atabaques, a pandeiro, an agogô, and a reco-reco. Together, these instruments create the rhythms (toques) that set the pace and style of the game .
The bateria does more than make music; it unites the entire roda. Musicians, singers, and players all contribute to the energy, with call-and-response songs amplifying the collective voice. A strong bateria creates a magnetic atmosphere that pulls everyone into the rhythm of capoeira.
Berimbau
The berimbau is the emblematic instrument of capoeira. It consists of a wooden bow, a steel string, and a hollow gourd resonator. Played with a stick (baqueta), stone (dobrão), and shaker (caxixi), it produces distinct tones that guide the roda .
There are three main types:
Gunga (Berra-boi): Deep, commanding sound, sets the rhythm.
Médio (Viola): Mid-pitch, adds variations and calls.
Viola (Violinha): Highest pitch, improvises rapid flourishes.
The berimbau is more than an instrument , it is the voice of the roda. Its rhythms can dictate when players enter, shift the style of play, or encourage cunning exchanges. Historically, it helped disguise capoeira as music, allowing the art to survive during times of repression.
Bênção (“Blessing”)
The bênção is a direct front kick delivered with the sole of the foot. Its name, meaning “blessing,” reflects capoeira’s irony: a movement that seems generous but is actually an attack .
In practice, the bênção is powerful and versatile. It can knock back an opponent, close distance, or set up combinations. Symbolically, it represents capoeira’s blend of appearance and reality , what looks like kindness can also be cunning strategy.
C
Cangaço / Cangaceiros
The cangaceiros were outlaw bands in Brazil’s Northeast during the early 20th century. They lived by raiding and resisting authorities in the harsh sertão. Lampião, the most famous cangaceiro, became a folk legend .
In capoeira, references to cangaceiros evoke themes of resistance, cunning, and survival against oppressive systems. Songs that mention Lampião connect the roda to broader struggles for autonomy and dignity in Brazilian history.
Capoeira
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art that blends martial arts, dance, music, and ritual. Born from African traditions carried to Brazil by enslaved people, it functioned as both a tool for survival and a cultural expression of identity and resistance .
It is more than movement , it is a language of rhythm, song, trickery, and creativity. Today, capoeira is practiced worldwide, yet it still carries its origins of resilience and cultural pride.
Capoeira Angola
This traditional style emphasizes ritual, storytelling, and strategic play. Players use slow, grounded movements, emphasizing malícia and mandinga. Music is central, with songs narrating history and guiding the game .
Capoeira Angola is often described as a living history book. Each roda becomes a performance of memory, resistance, and community, reminding practitioners of their ancestral roots.
Corridos
Corridos are short, call-and-response songs sung during the game. The leader sings a line, and the chorus responds. They are repetitive, lively, and keep the energy flowing .
Corridos can comment on the game, encourage players, or reference history and culture. Their simplicity invites everyone in the roda to participate, reinforcing capoeira’s communal spirit.
E
Esquiva
Esquiva means “dodge.” It is the foundation of capoeira defense. Players bend, lean, or roll to avoid kicks instead of blocking them .
Esquivas reflect capoeira’s philosophy of flexibility and survival , rather than meeting force with force, the capoeirista evades and redirects. They also embody malícia, as dodges can be disguised or lead directly into counterattacks.
G
Ganza (Reco-reco)
The ganzá, also called reco-reco, is a scraper instrument made of bamboo, wood, or metal. It produces a textured, rhythmic sound that complements the drums and berimbau .
Though subtle, its steady rasp fills in the rhythm, creating depth in the bateria. Like many capoeira instruments, it originated in African traditions where rhythm served both musical and spiritual purposes.
Ginga
The ginga is the fundamental movement of capoeira. A triangular swaying step, it keeps the body in constant motion, making it harder for opponents to predict attacks .
Ginga is more than technique , it is rhythm embodied. It teaches balance, adaptability, and flow. For beginners, mastering the ginga is the first step; for advanced players, it remains the heart of every game.
L
Ladainha
The ladainha is a long, solo song that opens the roda. It is usually sung by the lead singer or mestre, often telling a story or giving moral teaching .
Its purpose is to set the tone for the roda , reverent, reflective, and grounded in tradition. When the ladainha ends, the chorus joins in with a louvação (praise), transitioning into the corridos.
Lampião (Virgulino Ferreira da Silva)
Lampião (1897–1938) was the most famous cangaceiro of Brazil’s Northeast. Known as both a ruthless bandit and a folk hero, he and his companion Maria Bonita became legendary .
In capoeira, Lampião symbolizes resilience, cunning, and the blurred line between outlaw and protector. His footsteps are invoked in songs, reminding players of resistance in harsh conditions.
M
Malicia
Malicia is not about ill will or malicious intent to harm. Instead, it represents a highly developed sense of cunning, adaptability, and strategic intelligence, allowing practitioners to perceive the intentions of others and understand the dynamics of the world around them. It's the "street smarts" of Capoeira, allowing practitioners to be clever, unpredictable, and effective in the dynamic and playful environment of the roda. It's a quality that is admired and cultivated, seen as a sign of a truly skilled and experienced capoeirista.
Mandinga
Malicia + Malandragem = Mandinga. Mandinga refers to a mystical energy or charisma that a capoeirista brings into the roda. It can mean trickery, spiritual force, or the mysterious style that makes play unpredictable.
It reflects capoeira’s fusion of physical skill with presence, cunning, and spiritual awareness. A player with mandinga doesn’t just move, they enchant.
Malandragem
Malandragem, a core Brazilian concept, signifies more than street smarts; it's the art of navigating life with cunning, charisma, and strategic deception, born from necessity and resilience.
In capoeira, malandragem thrives through subtle wit and misdirection. Capoeiristas use deceptive movements, rhythm changes, playful banter, and feints to gain psychological advantage. This reflects the historical struggles of marginalized communities, where intelligence and adaptability were crucial for survival against oppression. Malandragem in capoeira celebrates intelligence over force, passing down the importance of wit and the unexpected.
Martelo (“Hammer”)
The martelo is a fast, sharp kick delivered with the instep of the foot. Compact and direct, it can be executed from the ginga with little warning .
It demonstrates capoeira’s balance between fluid play and sudden power. The martelo’s surprise element makes it an effective strike in both Angola and Regional games.
Meia Lua de Compasso
The meia lua de compasso is one of the most iconic and powerful kicks in Capoeira Angola. It’s a circular, spinning kick delivered with the heel, often performed with the support of hands on the ground to create momentum and balance. This technique combines agility, rhythm, and precision, allowing the capoeirista to strike from unexpected angles while maintaining a fluid, dance-like flow. More than just a kick, the meia lua de compasso embodies the blend of martial art and art form that defines Capoeira Angola, making it a symbol of both self-defense and cultural expression.
Meia Lua de Frente
The meia lua de frente is a crescent-shaped front kick, swinging in an arc from outside to inside. Smooth yet powerful, it is a foundational strike .
Like many capoeira movements, it is both practical and beautiful. Its flowing arc disguises its danger, fitting capoeira’s style of m
P
Pandeiro
The pandeiro is a Brazilian tambourine that adds bright, jingling rhythms to capoeira music. It balances the deep tones of the atabaque and the string sound of the berimbau .
Portable and versatile, the pandeiro is also used in samba and other Afro-Brazilian traditions. In the roda, it helps sustain the communal rhythm, encouraging clapping, singing, and energy.
Q
Queixada (“Jaw”)
The queixada is a circular kick, swinging from inside to outside, often targeting the opponent’s head or upper body .
It is graceful and powerful, demonstrating capoeira’s blend of elegance and danger. Like other circular kicks, it teaches timing, range, and flow.
Quadras
Quadras are short, four-line verses sung between the ladainha and corridos .
They are often witty, playful, or poetic, bridging solemnity and lively energy. By keeping them short, capoeira ensures everyone can join the singing.
R
Roda
The roda is the circle where capoeira is played. Musicians form one side with instruments, singers clap, and players enter the circle to exchange movements .
The roda is more than a space , it is sacred. It embodies community, continuity, and tradition. Every roda is a unique performance of history and play.
Rolê
The rolê is a rolling evasive movement, often transitioning from one esquiva to another .
It teaches fluidity, keeping the body low and mobile while opening angles for attack or escape. The rolê represents capoeira’s principle of continuous motion.
S
Songs of Capoeira (Ladainha, Quadra, Corrido)
Capoeira songs are divided into three main types: ladainhas (long solo stories), quadras (four-line verses), and corridos (call-and-response). Each serves a role in shaping the roda .
Songs pass down history, teach values, and comment on the game in real time. They transform the roda into a living conversation between past and present.
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