Capoeira and Candombl: Conformity and Resistance in Brazil

Capoeira is a unique music-dance-sport-play activity created by African slaves in Brazil, and Candomble is a hybrid religion combining Catholic and African beliefs and practices. While there are numerous books on Candomble and kindred Afro-American religions, none of them effectively combines Candomble and Capoeira, which are in fact closely interconnected. For centuries, Capoeira and Candomble have been central to Brazilian life, despite their suppression by the dominant cultures. Currently they comprise a coherent part of the cultural life of the nation. As well, they have grown popular in North America and Europe, both as a new blend of sports, dance, and physical culture and as an integrated and holistic approach to many facets of life. For Western audiences, Capoeira performance and Candomble services are fun to watch and participate in, but difficult to understand. In this book, the author offers his own reflections about Capoeira and Candomble, combining personal experiences with anecdotes, historical facts, and research, as well as religious and philosophical interpretations, both Western and non-Western. The result is informative and entertaining, a description and analysis that allow readers to get a feeling, understanding, and even experience of the spirit of Capoeira and Candomble.Merrell, Floyd is the author of 'Capoeira and Candombl: Conformity and Resistance in Brazil', published 2005 under ISBN 9788484891789 and ISBN 848489178X.