MICHAEL JACKSON, OLODUM, CITY OF GOD

Michael Jackson has passed away and let us pay tribute to "one of us ": an amazing artist, admired from all over the world. In Brazil, a country that has its own very strong music industry, his fame hit in the eighties when everyone just went crazy about his dance moves.

He shot this video in Brazil in 1996 in the favella City of God (Cidade de Deus) and in the Pelourinho, the historical centre of Salvador Bahia, with the group Olodum. That's when when Katia Lund, who was the producer for the Rio shoot, first became acquainted with the favella, which then inspired her to produce the oscar winning film "City of God", one of the greatest Brazilian box office hits (that's right!!)

This is just an example of how strong his legacy will carry on in the world and how greatly he will be missed.



My own fave MJ moments... was after the capoeira class on Monday nights, we went to our usual pub on Brixton's high street with the locals (unfortunately now replaced by a posher pub) just in time to catch the results of the MJ trial broadcast live. When he was found non guilty, everyone broke into an applause and cheered.

Workshop with Mestre Roberval - Tue 16 June

To all members of Grupo de Capoeiragem Baiana.

Here are the details for the workshop on Tuesday 16 June with Mestre Roberval of Grupo de Capoeira Filhos de Angola. (Genuine traditional Capoeira Angola handed down from generation to generation.) It will definitely be fun!

Venue: Ferndale Sports Centre, Nursery Road, Brixton, SW9 8BP. Tel: 0845 130 8998
Nearest Tube: Brixton
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Cost: £15. (Please pay directly to Pedreiro) We are hiring the hall so please pay in advance, preferably at the monday class.
Hope to see you there!

Raymond.

Welcome Blog!

This is the new blog for students from Pedreiro's capoeira group, to talk about anything related to the class, their lives and experiences.

Here is a picture I took on a trip to Namibia in Dec 2007, of a musician we met in the market, who played an instrument from the family of the berimbau .