Esther Viola Kurtz, a visiting lecturer in ethnomusicology within the College of Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, has released a paper entitled “Call, Response, and Compromisso: Ethical Practice in Capoeira of Backland Bahia, Brazil.”

Published online by Cambridge University Press, the article posits that in the context of the Afro-Brazilian art form capoeira, call-and-response frameworks serve purposes beyond merely structuring live performances. Rather, as Kurtz contended, the music and movement engage participants to embrace obligations within the community and their personal lives. Such responsibilities encompass attending training and performances, caring for instruments, preparing for annual gatherings, and instructing younger generations in Bahia about capoeira.

Kurtz’s scholarship centers on Afro-Brazilian music, sound, movement, and dance methodologies. Her ongoing book project, “A Beautiful Fight: The Racial Politics of Capoeira in Backland Bahia,” investigates capoeira’s capacity to inspire antiracist activism while also critically addressing the ramifications of increased white involvement in this deeply rooted spiritual and political Afro-Brazilian tradition. The book is currently in development with the University of Michigan Press as part of its Music and Social Justice Series.

The article Kurtz explores ethical practice in capoeira first appeared on The Source.