What is a Berimbau?

A berimbau is a traditional musical instrument from Brazil that is closely associated with the Afro-Brazilian martial art called Capoeira (Afro-Brazilian martial art). The instrument consists of a long flexible wooden bow with a single steel string stretched between its ends and a hollow gourd attached as a resonator. When played, the gourd amplifies the sound and gives the instrument its distinctive tone.

The berimbau is played using a small stick to strike the metal string while the musician holds a small stone or coin against the string to change the pitch. A small woven shaker called a caxixi is often held in the same hand as the stick and shaken while striking the string. By combining these techniques, players can produce different tones and rhythmic patterns.

In capoeira performances, the berimbau acts as the leading instrument that sets the rhythm and style of the game being played. Different rhythmic patterns signal changes in movement and energy during the performance. Today, the berimbau remains an important symbol of Brazilian culture and is used in traditional music, capoeira events, and world music performances.