Mestre Ulisses leads the capoeira group Lua de São Jorge in Olinda, Pernambuco. He started training capoeira at the age of 10, practising in backyards and on the beach. He has a large children’s capoeira group, recognising the challenges and risks that children face on a daily basis, he regards capoeira as social and cultural education.
Our time in Olinda gave us a chance to visit Mestra Di’s academy and continue the conversations of the previous project. It was great to be there in person, play capoeira with her group and the children, and contribute to the music. The academy is a small room down an alleyway in Olinda. There are…
A necessary challenge for all researchers is not only to find ways of researching that are not exploitative or extractive, but that support the people who collaborate in the research. In Olinda, Pernambuco, we engaged in a spoken and musical conversation with five artists: Leo Lima, Mestre Ulisses, Mestre Juarez, Negão do Coco and Mestre…
The Festas Juninas in the Northeast of Brazil are the June Festivals celebrating the days dedicated to Saint John (São João) and Saint Peter (São Pedro). Moving between Recife and Olinda in the state of Pernambuco gave insight into the centrality of music to cultural life. Music is what brings people together, it is how…