Capoeira Angola
in Helsinki

Capoeira Angola is an Afro-Brazilian cultural practice and martial art that combines music, dance, acrobatics, fighting, ritual, history and philosophy. In capoeira trainings we learn instruments and movements while developing self-expression, sweating and having fun. Capoeira Angola is suitable for different ages, and everyone interested is welcome to join us.

Fica-Helsinki is a Capoeira Angola group in Helsinki.

The group started as part of Grupo de Capoeira Angola Engenho Velho in 1997. Since 2004 the group has been under guidance of Mestre Valmir from Bahia, joining the International Capoeira Angola Foundation (ICAF) in 2008. FICA-Helsinki organizes classes and events for everyone interested in Capoeira Angola. Our group is committed to creating a safer space together.

Classes

SPRING 2022

Monday
18–20

Location: Oulunkylän nuorisotalo,
Kylänvanhimmantie
25 B, 00640 Helsinki

Thursday
19-20

Online

Saturday
10.30–12.30

Location: Pasilan nuorisotalo,
Pasilanraitio 6,
00240 Helsinki

Prices

Spring season 140€
One month (30 days) 40€
One time 10€
(discount -20% students and unemployed)

Welcome to train with us!

Fica The International Capoeira Angola Foundation (ICAF), founded in 1995, endeavours to preserve and promote the Afro-Brazilian art and culture of Capoeira Angola.

Around the world, the activities of the foundation nurture social-cultural inclusion and human development. Established under the leadership of three mestres (masters), Mestre Cobra Mansa, Mestre Jurandir and Mestre Valmir, the ICAF today hosts Brazilian headquarters in the cities of Belo Horizonte (MG), and Salvador (BA). As part of their vocation, the mestres assist in the development of affiliate groups in Brazil and throughout the world. ICAF is present in a number of U.S. cities, as well as in Mexico, Costa Rica, England, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Japan, and Mozambique. Other leaders of the ICAF include Mestre Silvinho (Seattle), Mestre Gunter (Manaus), Mestre Kamau and Contramestra Eva (Philadelphia), Mestre Kojo (Washington DC) and Contramestra Andrea (Oakland) as well as Contramestra Åsa (Stockholm). In addition, dedicated to recording and disseminating Capoeira Angola, ICAF has a documentation and audiovisual center that maintains an extensive archive research library about Capoeira Angola, and other related African diaspora studies.

Mestre Valmir

Born in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, Valmir Santos Damasceno entered the world of Capoeira Angola in 1982 when he began training with the Grupo de Capoeira Angola Pelorinho (GCAP) under Mestres Moraes and Cobra Mansa.
In 1992, he received the title of Contra-Mestre while working on Capoeira Angola related projects with different social organizations, including the Associação Livre de Moradores da Mangueira (ALMM), the Fundação do Menor Trabalhador (FAMEB) and Projeto Axé among others.

In 1994, he left GCAP and began his own group, which later became part of Mestre Cobra Mansa’s International Capoeira Angola Foundation. In August 2003, he received the title of Mestre at the 9th Annual International Capoeira Angola conference in Belo Horizonte. Mestre Valmir currently lives in Salvador and leads FICA-Salvador, the Brazil Head Branch of the International Capoeira Angola Foundation. Mestre Valmir is expert in the artisan fabrication of the instrument berimbau.

Mestre Jurandir

Mestre Jurandir has dedicated the last 36 years of his life to the cause and promotion of Capoeira Angola. He was one of the pioneers of the Grupo de Capoeira Angola Pelourinho (GCAP). In 1990, he started the N’GOLO Angola group in Minas Gerais, Brazil, which is presently affiliated with the International Capoeira Angola Foundation (ICAF). Throughout his career Mestre Jurandir has been a constant presence in the cultural arts scene of the city of Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais. He has organized numerous events aimed at promoting Capoeira Angola as an important aspect of Afro-Brazilian culture and history among children and young adults.

One of Mestre Jurandir’s principle preoccupations has long been the promotion and teaching of Capoeira Angola to children. Through the art form, he seeks to instill in children not only the mental and physical discipline to perform the complex movements of the game, but also an understanding of the music accompanying the art form and the cultural and historical significance of its lyrics.

Mestre Jurandir has also conducted various workshops at college campuses throughout the United States as part of the ICAF's international cultural exchange program and has been instrumental in the formation of ICAF affiliate groups in Austin, Texas, Oakland, California, Seattle, Washington, and Maputo, Mozambique. Mestre Jurandir now travels back and forth between the United States and Brazil to supervise the foundation’s projects and efforts.