Juego de libertad (Game of Freedom)

August 1, 2023
The mighty history of capoeira--and one of the form's central figures. A cultural expression that blends fighting, music, dance, and theatrics, capoeira arose from the beliefs and customs of the African peoples who were forced into slavery by the Portuguese in Brazil. Tonatiuh details capoeira's tumultuous rise, from its banning in Brazil in 1890, two years after the abolition of slavery, to "a celebrated art" across the early 20th century. Mestre Bimba (born Manoel dos Reis Machado in 1899) developed a new kind of capoeira called Luta Regional Baiana. Determined to change the form's "bad reputation," Bimba opened an academia and taught capoeira in a formalized manner, leading to public bouts that reinforced his notion of capoeira as an artistic expression of resistance. Thanks to Mestre Bimba's struggles, as well as the endeavors of other capoeiristas and a slightly more tolerant Brazilian government, capoeira eventually was decriminalized in the 1950s, leading to greater participation, including among previously excluded segments of the population such as women. The author/illustrator's trademark pre-Colombian-flavored artwork lends itself wonderfully to the subject matter, with exaggerated poses and razor-sharp linework conveying body movements. Several illustrations depict shadows of capoeiristas as silhouettes of enslaved people, emphasizing the form's origins. A glossary and in-depth author's note provide further illuminating context. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A superb portrait of Afro-Brazilian endurance. (endnotes, photos, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 5-10)

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October 2, 2023
This movement-filled biography about Brazilian capoeira mestre Bimba (1899–1974) begins with his youth in Salvador, Brazil, where he’s taken with the combination of “music, fighting, theatrics, and dance.” Practiced by Black men who are, like Bimba, descendants of Africans enslaved by the Portuguese, capoeira is disdained by “predominantly white” authorities, who outlaw playing it in the streets, beating and incarcerating the capoeiristas they catch. To reduce stigma against capoeira, Bimba develops his own form, called regional, which he opens a school to teach in 1932. Through rigorous teaching and official competition, Bimba slowly raises the profile of regional until capoeira is not only decriminalized but also declared by Brazilian president Getúlio Vargas “the only truly national sport.” Tonatiuh’s signature-style illustrations employ fluid motion to simulate capoeira’s graceful acrobatics, while lengthy informative text conveys the history of Bimba and of the once-persecuted Afro-Brazilian cultural expression. An author’s note and glossary conclude. Ages 4–8.

Starred review from October 1, 2023

Gr 3-6-A fascinating account of the Afro-Brazilian art form of Capoeira, which combined music, fighting, theatrics, and dance. The street performers were mostly descendants of enslaved people brought to Brazil. Capoeira was illegal and shows were broken up by the police. Manuel dos Reis Machado, known as "Bimba," loved Capoeira and fought the disdain most Brazilians had for it. Patiently, Bimba took Capoeira from a street activity to a sport. After learning Capoeira, Bimba added new moves and called it regional, opening an academy to teach the style, setting rules, and creating standards for his students. Bimba challenged other Capoeira performers through newspaper stories and hosted tournaments in a park, selling tickets to them. Through these efforts, Capoeira was eventually recognized by government officials and its illegal status ended; Bimba achieved his goal of preserving and expanding Capoeira for the people of Brazil and the world. Highly stylized drawings, in earth tones, show the enslaved ancestors of the Capoeira performers in their shadows. The participants' poses show the acrobatic and martial arts aspect of Capoeira, and musicians playing instruments reinforce the importance of music in the shows. Back matter includes a glossary, extensive author's notes, end notes, and bibliography. VERDICT A great introduction to Capoeira and the persistence of Bimba to move this street performance into the mainstream. This masterpiece of illustration and narrative will appeal to readers across categories of martial arts, dance, and more.-Tamara Saarinen

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 1, 2023
In his accessibly written picture-book biography of Manoel dos Reis Machado (1899-1974), known as Mestre Bimba, Tonatiuh (A Land of Books, rev. 1/23, and many others) explores the rise of capoeira in Brazil from an illegal activity to a national treasure. Bimba, who lived in the port city of Salvador in the Brazilian state of Bahia, learned capoeira at the age of twelve from a sea captain. He excelled at the sport and created a new style of capoeira, combining various styles, and eventually started an academy to bring structure and legitimacy to the game. Bimba altered the course of capoeira, emphasizing its "celebration of his Bahian culture" as a game played with music, dance, fighting, and flourishes. Tonatiuh's illustrations are hand-drawn and digitally colored in his distinctive, iconic two-dimensional style. Bold lines on colorful spreads show the movement of capoeira; on several pages, Tonatiuh ingeniously uses shadows to acknowledge the characters' connections to the enslaved Africans who were Bimba's ancestors. A superb tribute to an individual and to capoeira. Back matter includes a glossary, an author's note with color photographs, endnotes, and a bibliography. Concurrently published in Spanish as Juego de libertad: Mestre Bimba y el arte de la capoeira. Yesica Hurd

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)