The Brighton Capoeira Angola Group

We in Brighton had the great pleasure of being visited by two of the greatest female Mestres in Brazil, Paulinha and Janja.

Janja can be seen here playing with Marcelo (Cobra Mansa's son). She gave a three day workshop in Brighton and showed us different aspects of Capoeira as practised by her group in Sao Paulo.

She also reminded us of the plight of women in Brazil, and of the fact that in many places, Capoeira still remains the domain on men and reflects old prejudices. Janja plays Capoeira since the early seventies, becoming the first female Mestre in Brazil, and has since been an inspiration to women and men worldwide.

Of course, none of this machista stuff applies to fluffy Brighton (errrr... quite unlikely), but it was good to hear her account of the struggle for the recognition of women in Capoeira and in society in general.