Arembepe is tight, y’all.
While our trip in and of itself has been filled with vivacious experiences that have allowed us to dip our toes into the immense pool of Bahian culture, today’s experience was intimate and told the fruitful story of the power that arrives when a seed is planted and nurtured.
Upon our first moments at Pousada A Cappella (which I must add, were instantly luxurious), we were greeted by a warm staff community that invited us to relax, take a load off, and enjoy our stay. A Capella was formerly a house owned by Bahia’s Football Club director that has since been transformed into a lovely beachfront inn and art house. Naturally, I split most of my time between a lovely beachside walk and napping in the wonderful hammocks that overlook it, imagining this as my own fictional home before our lovely lunch (they have an incredible shrimp risotto that gave me new goals of just how rich I aspire to be).
Later, we visited Berimbau Arts Capoeira Center where Nel and Miguel have created a community haven that invests heavily back into its community and its resources.
While reluctantly at first on Nel’s behalf, Miguel saw the hope of this space for their family as a house of capoeira that would provide the community with something that money could not buy. Berimbau Arte, which was completely built by Miguel’s two hands, had many neighborhood kids who wanted to train with him before the walls were even finished.
Much like the cabaça seed, which is the seed of the tree that is used to make the musical instrument the Berimbau, this organization has taken 10 years to come to fruition since the idea was first planted, and in that time, it has seen great success. Since then, Berimbau Arte has expanded not only to offer capoeira, but tutoring, fashion, environmental science,and many other spaces that serve over 70 kids in the community and provide a space for them to thrive.
We were able to observe the process that must take place for the berimbaus to be made, understand and participate in the creation of skirts used in the maculele dance, and to play capoeira and maculele with all of the lovely students who had the chance to be there this afternoon.
I am grateful for our last collective learning experience on this trip to have happened in the paradise that is Arembepe, where this family we have formed over the last few weeks had one last chance to collectively explore, play, dance, and enjoy all the delicious beauty. The day ended as many have, full of wonder, gratitude, and amazement at this place and this wonderful life we are living here in Bahia.