Mestre Acordeon will embark on a life-changing trip commemorating his 70th birthday by riding his bicycle from the Bay Area – Berkeley California to Bahia, Brazil, a 14,000-mile journey. This epic and historic journey, called Project B2B-Joga Capoeira (Berkeley to Bahia), will start September 1st and take about a year to complete. It will allow Acordeon to immerse himself in local cultures: customs, traditions, values, music, and dance. while studying the social significance of Capoeira in these diverse communities. The project will encompass populations in 11 countries (including Brazil) and more than 32 cities. He hopes to complete the trip in 400 days. This trip will produce a documentary, a world music CD, and a book.
“I needed to be responsible and not take any unnecessary risks,” he said. “I’m hoping to ride for 300 days and spend 100 resting, practicing capoeira, and immersing myself in the culture of the countries I visit.”
Through the trip and the documentary, Acordeon hopes to raise funds and awareness for his philanthropic project, Projeto Kirimure, a program that works with at-risk children in Brazil, providing a space for them to practice capoeira, study reading and writing, and get help with homework.
