Capoeira

The end of slavery and prohibition
Original Lei Áurea document

At the end of the 19th century, slavery in the Brazilian Empire was already doomed for many reasons, among them the ever increasing number of slave's escapes and the frequent raids by quilombo militias on properties which still adopted slavery. The Empire tried to soften the problems with laws that would restrict slavery, but Brazil would inevitably recognize its end on May 13, 1888, with a law called Lei Áurea, sanctioned by imperial parliament and signed by princess Isabel.

Free, black people would soon find themselves abandoned. A vast majority had nowhere to live, no job and were despised by Brazilian society, which usually saw them as lazy workers.[7][8] The increase of European and Asian workers of that time would diminish job opportunities even more and many black people would become marginalized. With them, naturally, the Capoeira.[8][9]

It was inevitable that Capoeira practitioners would start using their abilities in unconventional ways. Many began to use Capoeira as body guards, mercenaries, hitmen, henchmen. Groups of Capoeira practitioners, known as maltas, used to terrorize Rio de Janeiro. In little time, in 1890, the recently proclaimed Brazilian Republic decreed the prohibition of Capoeira in the whole country,[10] as things were pretty chaotic in the Brazilian capital and many police reports would demonstrate that Capoeira was an undesired advantage in a fight.[9]

After the prohibition, any citizen caught practicing Capoeira, in a fight or for any other reason, would be arrested, tortured and often mutilated by the police. The art of Capoeira, after brief freedom, was once again condemned and repressed. Cultural practices, like the roda de Capoeira, were conducted in far or hidden places and often practitioners would leave someone as sentry, to warn if the police was approaching the area.