From maltas to regulated practice: capoeira in the newspapers of the city of Rio de Janeiro (1901-1919)

ABSTRACT In the transition from the nineteenth to the twentieth century, when the Republic was established in Brazil, capoeira in Rio de Janeiro underwent a transformation process. A marginalised and criminalised practice sought to assume a more regulated format. This article used newspapers published in the city of Rio de Janeiro between the years 1901–1919 to analyse this process of change. The documents provide evidence that, in general, the press of the then-Brazilian capital condemned capoeira. However, some editorial lines started to value the technical aspects of capoeira, its educational role, its importance as a sport, and its relevance as a genuinely Brazilian element. In conclusion, despite having different editorial lines, especially after the First World War, the article points out that newspapers began treating capoeira as a national sport and an essential educational means.