What is a Berimbau?

The berimbau is the most important instrument in the Capoeira bateria, instantly recognizable and essential for leading the roda. Structurally, it is a simple instrument consisting of a cabaça (gourd resonator), an arame (wire), and a verga (wooden bow). The wood, typically biriba, is traditionally harvested during a new moon and prepared by sanding and varnishing. The wire, often salvaged from tires, is struck with a baqueta (stick) while a dobrão (coin) alters the pitch.

The berimbau belongs to the family of musical bows, likely the oldest category of instruments created by humans, with origins tracing back to hunting bows in Northern Africa. European travelers in Angola documented similar instruments called hungo or m’borumbumba that used gourd resonators. Interestingly, early records of these African bows do not show the use of the caxixi (the woven rattle held in the hand), suggesting this accessory might have been an innovation developed by African people specifically within Brazil.

While musical bows existed in Africa, their integration into Capoeira specifically appears to be a Brazilian development. Historical engravings from the early 19th century depict the instrument, sometimes called an urucungo, being played by vendors or in social gatherings, but not always explicitly in martial contexts. However, by the late 1800s, the berimbau had become the "principal and indispensable" instrument of the art form, capable of commanding the soul of the game with its deep and powerful pulse.

To learn more about berimbaus, check out this podcast episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0dOZ1glERhEQOiCJarV4A8?si=8EgoKw6gTiaps35rG8V5Hg