Profile on Dancer, Capoeirista, and Activist Naima Yazbek

Rolha Capoeira

1 minute read

São Paulo’s Naima Yazbek (full name Fernanda Yazbek Pereira) is an accomplished capoeirista and dancer, and she’s found her true calling in using her skills as a tool for activism. Uniquely talented and connected to her heritage in Lebanon, she’s been helping others use art as therapy and as a means of fighting for civil rights. Yazbek was recently interviewed by Lebanese-Brazilian magazine ConnectionBeirut on her artistic pursuits as well as her social work.

Capoeira in Mourning as Mestre Ananias Passes Away at 92

Rolha Capoeira

1 minute read

Capoeiristas all over the world are grieving from the loss of another legend, Mestre Ananias. He died on July 20 at age 92 in São Paulo, Brazil. Ananias was known for being well-rounded and a complete embodiment of the art of capoeira, and one of the few remaining members of capoeira’s honored past. Born in São Felix, Bahia, Mestre Ananias went on to be who many consider the father of the capoeira scene in São Paulo, bringing with him the full breadth of Afro-Brazilian culture from Bahia.