We at Matumbé Capoeira School Rome are pleased and honored to share with everyone the newest and most ambitious project of our school: the creation of the first Center for Brazilian Culture in Rome, in the neighborhood of Testaccio, historic center of the eternal city, which will help to preserve the history of Afro-indigenous Brazilian culture (studies and practices) and collaborate with different socio-cultural projects.

Ilê Odara are two words in Yoruba language.

Ilê – House, home.

Odara – Beautiful, efficient, peace, tranquility.

The name Ilê Odara for the cultural center comes from a set of principles, human values, and worldview, which are transmitted by the Matumbé Capoeira School.

The world is increasingly sick, in need of love, education, and solidarity. Odara Center for Brazilian Culture will become a home, a home, a refuge, where everyone (regardless of gender, ethnicity, belief, or religion) is welcome. 

Since 2013, Matumbé Capoeira School Rome, under Angelo Oliveira (Contramestre Capacete), has been focused on the preservation and maintenance of the Afro-indigenous Brazilian culture, promoting classes, courses, workshops, and others cultural events for the community, adding multiple artistic and educational manifestations.

We propose to provide Capoeira Angola, Samba de Roda, Maculelê, Forró, Baião, and Portuguese Language classes, with internationally recognized professionals.

Ginga Meu Povo Project: Capoeira for refugees and vulnerable people.

Simultaneously, the Ilê Odara Center for Brazilian Culture will promote the Ginga Meu Povo project. This social project will cover a series of structured social integration activities for refugees and financially needy people. In this way, and being an activity yet to be implemented, the Matumbé Capoeira School is in contact with several associations and non-profit organizations working for many years in the area with refugees.

One of the biggest challenges that vulnerable young people and adults face is the psychological impact of experiencing war, conflict, social and/or economic marginalization. A healthy environment that offers space for learning, self-discovery, and life skills development is the most effective and essential condition for a successful future. That is why the Ginga Meu Povo project focuses on the following:

Use Capoeira Angola as the primary tool for social inclusion, educational training, and training for vulnerable youth and adults for a peaceful and promising future.

Unfortunately, Covid-19 and the resulting confinement abruptly interrupted most of our school’s production activities, as well as our projects. We are facing great difficulties in obtaining the necessary credit for the restructuring of the space. But we do not intend to give up, and so we ask for help from those who believe in the constructive power and beauty of this ancestral culture. 

We need everyone’s support to achieve our goal and make this dream come true. Please help us reach our goal: € 15,000 value. The amount raised will be used exclusively for the restructuring work. From now on, we thank you all for your understanding and collaboration. In Rome, the doors of the Ilê Odara Center for Brazilian Culture will always be open to everyone. You can count on our hospitality sprinkled with much Brazilian culture. Please help us to write a new page in the history of Brazilian Afro-indigenous culture in Rome!

Below are some of the rewards for the suggested donations:

Roma: 25€

• Public thanks on all our social networks;
• Two personalized digital capoeira drawings, created by the great artist Clara “Pintada."

Manaus: 100€

• Public thanks on all our social networks;
• Five personalized digital capoeira drawings, created by the great artist Clara “Pintada";
• Acknowledgment of the donor’s name or brand in all our social networks and website.

 Barcelona: 300€

• Public thanks on all our social networks;
• Seven personalized digital capoeira drawings, created by the great artist Clara “Pintada";
• Acknowledgment of the donor’s name or brand in all our social networks and website;
• Name or brand advertised in the thank video published on our youtube channel and shared on social networks.

Brasil: 500€

• Public thanks on all our social networks;
• Nine personalized digital capoeira drawings, created by the great artist Clara “Pintada";
• Acknowledgment of the donor’s name or brand in all our social networks and website;
• Name or brand advertised in the thank you video that will be published on our youtube channel, social networks, and our website;
• Name of the donor/company shown on the thank you plaque, which will be produced after the campaign and displayed at the Ilê Odara Brazilian Culture Center;
• Personalized shirt from the Ilê Odara Center.

Ilê Odara: 1000€

• Public thanks on all our social networks and website;
• 12 personalized digital capoeira drawings, created by the great artist Clara “Pintada";
• Name or brand advertised in the thank you video published on our youtube channel, social networks, and our website;
• Name of the donor/company shown on the thank you card, which will be produced after the campaign and displayed at the Ilê Odara Center;
• Exclusive partner of the Matumbé Capoeira School and the Ilê Odara Center for Brazilian Culture: Name of the donor/company will be mentioned in all our advertisements (posters, flyers, banners, digital dissemination) for a period of 1 year;
• Personalized shirt from the Ilê Odara Center.