Capoeira, an art form practiced in Brazil, is a form of martial arts that incorporates dance and music. Characterised by rapid, complex movements, Capoeira originated when the Africans who had been brought to Brazil as slaves combined elements of both cultures to form an original fighting style.
‘Tracing the routes of Latin American cultural practices in London
could perhaps start in the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre with
around eight or nine shops, ranging from hair dressers to food
shops, owned by Latin Americans, mainly Colombians. A short stroll
around the first level of the Shopping Centre might be disconcerting
for many, but welcoming for others. Once in the Shopping Centre
you may be trapped by the sounds of music, the many accents of
people who stop on their way at ‘La Bodeguita’ for lunch or a snack;
by the smells of the food, incense and perfumes; and even more by
the mixture of people wandering around the corridors on a Saturday
morning.
During the 19th century in Brazil the camellia flower became the symbol of the abolitionist movement. Those who supported the movement wore the flower on their suits. Coffee is one of the most produced commodities in Latin America. After oil it is the most valuable commodity traded in the international trade market. |