Crianças Raízes do Abaeté

The project Crianças Raízes do Abaeté (Children, the roots of Abaeté) was set up in March 2005 by Contra Mestre Luis Negão and Onca Pintada.  It is located in Abaeté in Itapua, Salvador and its primary aim is to offer disadvantaged children from the local neighbourhood a safe place to learn the art of Capoeira.  The project provides the kids with free Capoeira classes in the mornings, afternoons and evenings.

Financed by the Abolição Trust (Registered Charity No. 1111395), the project employs a local Capoeira teacher and an adminstrator.  As well as the Capoeira classes the project embraces the kids' families as well by organising cultural events, such as Mothers' Day, Children's Day, and so on.

A working holiday

In July 2005, Contra Mestre Luis Negão took 10 of his students from Abolição Oxford Capoeira out to Abaeté to work at the project.  Their input and help was invaluable and the kids and students enjoyed not only playing Capoeira together but also painting the school, doing many art activities and exchanging Portuguese and English.

First Batizado at CRA

The first Batizado for the Project, was held in July 2006, led by Contra Mestre Luis Negão and his students from Abolição Oxford Capoeira. This event attracted a lot of local interest in the project. The first Batizado at CRA was supported by fundraising from the Abolição Trust, and in particular by Bailarina, who succeeded in securing a substantial donation for two Capoeira students, Tigre and Falcão, from the Hamburg project in South Africa, to fly out to meet the group in Brazil and spend two weeks with Contra Mestre Luis Negão and his students. This proved very successful as it enabled the two visiting South Africans to widen their knowledge of Capoeira, which they then passed on to their students back in South Africa.

Second Batizado at CRA

In July 2007 Contra Mestre Luis Negão returned to Brazil to organise the second Batizado at CRA. Again he was accompanied by a group of his Capoeira students from Oxford. The Batizado was well attended by local Mestres, including Mestre Jogo de Dentro and Mestrando Sabiá. The event also featured in the local newspaper.