African links

The influence of Angola on the Afro-Brazilian art form of capoeira is being investigated by an Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded research project. Matthias Rohrig Assuncao, from the department of history at the University of Essex, is to look into combat, dance, music, song and performance used in capoeira and their connections with surviving Angolan traditions. As well as writing journal articles, the team will also be creating a documentary and DVD for broadcast on Brazilian and Angolan television and developing an archive of material.