The Bermibau is one of the central instruments of Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art. Its origin can be traced back to Angola. This instrument, made with a wooden bow (biriba), curved by a steel string, often pulled out of used car tires, and a hollowed gourd (cabaça) is played by holding a stone or coin (dobrão) against the bow while beating it with a stick (baqueta) to create different sounds. Often one adds a shaker (caxixi). Depending on wood and gourd the berimbau can have a deep, medium or clear sound.
The sound and rhythm of the berimbau commands the roda in capoeira. There are several rhythm patterns a capoeirista has to learn to master the instrument, such as sāo bento grande, cavalaria or angola.
Quartinhas are little jars of clay or crockery which can be found in terreiros (temples) or private shrines for the Orishas. They serve as a vessel fo...
Fios de contas are beaded necklaces worn by practitioners of Candomblé. These necklaces form an important part of their initiation and connection to t...