Music and Song

One of my favorite Mestre Barrão's songs describing the loss and longing when Mestre Leopoldina, a famous Capoeira Master, passed away. Mestre Leopoldina was also one of the historical figures of Capoeira and was famous for his malandragem (trickeries). It is said that he had been once the foreman of the King Zumbi of Quilombo dos Palmares, one of the most famous runaway slaves' settlements in Brazil.

Below is an excerpt of the song (click the link for the full song):

This is a very beautiful song by Mestre Barrão, telling the story about being taken from one's homeland (Angola), and the longing for it. This is one of the songs I can relate to as it takes me back to the memory and longing of my own home country, Indonesia. The song also talks about setting oneself free after being enslaved. Nowadays, one is enslaved by the materials of this world, be it career, house, properties, cars, computers etc. More often than not, these keep us from realizing that there are so many unfortunate people without houses, or even basic needs in the world (even surrounding us). This is why I love this song, as singing it always remind me to "free" myself from these attachment and keep in contact with families and friends abroad, longing and wondering if one day I can go back there again.

Taken from Axé Capoeira CD Volume 7, this song is about Besouro Mangangá (Manoel Henrique Pereira - Born in Santo Amaro da Purificação, 1895 - 1924). Besouro was a Bahian capoeirista that early in the twentieth century became the ultimate symbol of Bahian capoeira. His fame reached the national level from the years 1930 and with the expansion of Capoeira to other continents, is internationalized (see: besouro-manganga). This song is written by Mestre Barrão, Axé Capoeira's founder.

This is an old, simple, traditional Capoeira song that everyone in the Capoeira world would know. It's so simple that every student/beginner in Capoeira would sing this song during their first class or instruction of Capoeira. However, with its simplicity, it also carries one of the greatest truth in life.

Lyric to one of Master Barrão's song, Mundo Enganador, from one of Axé Capoeira CD. This song talks about Capoeira being a valuable legacy that is passed down from father to children (son/daughter).

Ah! Meu Deus quando eu partir
Desse mundo enganador
Pra meu filho eu deixarei
Uma coisa de valor, é é é.

Não é dinheiro, não é ouro, não é prata.
É um berimbau maneiro que eu ganhei do meu avô.