Diary entry 20/3/2016
“VEM PRA RODA”——> com Dendê Maruo, Tokyo.
Rato, Queimado, eu, Arroz, Rainha, Ticum, Leão, berimbaus 1-2-3
🐞A small group of us went to participate in Dendê Maruo’s open roda, lead by Professor Neguinho.
🐢I played my first ever Angola game. Think I was actually just doing Benguela... I tried to stay low, but in hindsight it’s ok to stand tall in angola, but need to be super-loose and free in movement. Drunken-fist FTW!
I was one of the 2nd pair to open the Roda. That was pretty scary, so I tried to allow/reveal no hesitation or reluctance, and of course I enjoyed the Jogo. But my mouth went super-dry, and it became difficult to keep going.. I didn’t go in again after that. Almost, several times. But no.
🦄There were a lot of songs I’ve never heard.
Some I could pick up the basic lyrics.
Some that didn’t sound good and I don’t care to remember them.
And a few that spoke to me. Unfortunately the only one I do remember is, “Vem pra roda pro jogar”
~~~> This one was aimed directly at my (🐓) heart, as well as the many capoeiristas who came just to watch.
🐺While singing, Neguinho often said, “cadeira (galera?).” At first I thought he was talking to the players in the middle that were standing too tall for Angola... But now I think he was trying to get the people around the Roda - who were sitting on chairs at that time - to sing in the chorus.
However he was still sometimes saying it later when everyone was no longer using chairs. Hmm.