Memorias das Gingibirra — Roda on Wednesay 19th at 7.30 in the YMCA Stockwell

The last ‘Memorias da Gingibirra’ roda of the year will be on Wednesday the 19th at 7.30pm in Stockwell.

Memorias da Gingibirra is a humble homage to the roots and traditions of Capoeira Angola. Mestre Pastinha talks of how his life changed when he was asked to look after a traditional Sunday Roda that took place at the ‘Gingibirra’ by an older Capoeirista called Amorzinho. He was invited to the roda by the also famous Mestre Aberré.


The roda at Gingibirra no longer exists and there are different versions of its exact location. Names of streets and even whole neibourhoods have changed. Mestre Pastinha in a famous interview with Roberto Freire in the 60s describes the place as at the end of the Barrio da Liberdade.

Our roda roda was first organised as a means to bring Capoeira groups together and exchange experiences and knowledge. The roda is organised by Grupo de Estudos da FICA London and Capoeira Angola South London.

Perhaps our objective for the roda is best expressed by something Pastinha also says in his interview with Roberto Freire taking abut his students and how they learn:

Capoeira de Angola só pode ser ensinada sem forçar a naturalidade da pessoa, o negócio é aproveitar os gestos livres e próprios de cada qual. Ninguém luta do meu jeito, mas no deles há toda a sabedoria que aprendi. Cada um é cada um.

Capoeira Angola can only be taught without forcing against the nature of the individual. The trick is to take advantage of the free and personal expressions of each of us. Nobody fights like I do, but in all of them is all the wisdom that I learnt. Each one is different.

Everybody is welcome.