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

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.