WHO WE ARE
Contramestre Boneco
Boneco has been teaching Capoeira since the 1990s. He is a percussionist, qualified fitness instructor, and Associate Lecturer in Stage and Film Combat (BADC) at the University of Chichester.
His vision in Capoeira Angola is to study its origins and ancestry while honouring traditional teaching methods, including music and movement etiquette, in an inclusive and reflective learning environment.
He aims to create a space where everyone can learn Capoeira Angola with confidence.
Rooted in the fusion of African and Indigenous cultures in Brazil, Boneco's work in Capoeira Angola promotes well-being, bringing communities together and a positive approach to practice.
In Brighton since 2002
Mucambo Capoeira Angola was founded in 2002 by Boneco de Sousa. He and his three sisters—known in the capoeira community as the Amazonas family—have taught Capoeira in the UK for many years.
Boneco's school is recognised in the UK, Europe and Brazil for its dedication and welcoming atmosphere. They often collaborate with other groups and host guest teachers from Brazil, the UK and Europe.
Based in Brighton, we offer regular Capoeira Angola classes for all ages and backgrounds. We believe Capoeira inspires positive change, promotes Afro-Brazilian culture, and fosters empowerment, social awareness and mutual respect.
Since 2015, Boneco has partnered with Amazonas Arts, a non-profit organisation bringing Capoeira and related activities to schools and community groups
Mucambo Capoeira Angola
Mucambo means casa (“house”) or quilombo (“refuge”). Quilombos were settlements created by runaway enslaved people, offering protection and community.
These communities often defended themselves by any means necessary, and capoeira is believed to have been an essential form of resistance and defense.
Our classes give everyone the chance to build self-confidence while learning this centuries-old art of combat and dance. Capoeira helps develop mental focus, flexibility and physical strength.
In the spirit of mucambo, participants take part in singing capoeira songs in Brazilian Portuguese, practising combat-dance movements, and exploring the history and core principles of Capoeira Angola.
