Berimbau

Viola, médio and gunga

The berimbau (Portuguese pronunciation: [beɾĩˈbaw]) is a single-string percussion instrument, a musical bow, from Brazil. Originally from Africa where it receives different names, the berimbau was eventually brought into the practice of the Afro-Brazilian martial art capoeira, the berimbau leads the capoeiristas movement in the roda—the faster the berimbau is playing the faster the capoeirista moves in the game.

Berimbau Media

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  An old african urucungo player, by Debret (1826). He wrote that "often one of the slaves, missing his homeland, let out his voice and sang in the public squares and around the fountains."

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  Parts that make up a berimbau.

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  A caxixi, baqueta, and dobrão

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  Making the three sounds of a berimbau. A: buzz sound. B: high sound. C: open string sound.

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  Three berimbau players playing the rhythm for a capoeira in Baltimore, MA, featuring Mestre Cobra Mansa

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  Max Cavalera playing berimbau, 2012.