Art and the African Diaspora: Five SFIAF artists feature Black culture
by Tyler Jeffreys
“Spirit of Brazil 2019” May 31, 7:00 p.m., and June 2, 2:00 p.m., Gallery 308
Mestra Cigarra is the founder and artistic director of ABADÁ-Capoeira San Francisco. ABADÁ’s festival presentation is “Spirit of Brazil 2019.” The show features song, dance, acrobatics and, of course, capoeira: the Afro-Brazilian martial art form that incorporates acrobatics, dance, percussion and songs in a rhythmic dialogue of body, mind and spirit.
Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mestra Cigarra breathes history lessons into her shows. Capoeira stems from African slaves in Brazil who disguised martial arts as dance. After slavery was abolished in 1888, capoeira became illegal for over 40 years. The dangerous secret helped Africans defend themselves against Portuguese colonists and was passed through the generations, becoming tradition.
Mestra Cigarra offers us a cultural blend of enslaved Africans, Brazilian indigenous peoples and Portuguese immigrants: the art of capoeira. “Spirit of Brazil 2019” will deliver groundbreaking rhythms and powerful movements that reveal the history and spirit of resistance to oppression. Come celebrate! ¡Venha celebrar!
Mestra Cigarra is one of the top eight capoeiristas out of more than 50,000 international ABADÁ-Capoeira members. She says Brazil is in touch with her African mother, and “it would be great to have more African-American students.”
