Our Story
Our History
Founded in 1991, Afro Brazil Arts' (ABA) mission is to inspire leadership and community through capoeira.
For over 30 years, ABA has, as a NYC-based non-profit organization, provided programs and hosted events in NYC, throughout the US, and internationally.
ABA brings the beauty, wisdom, and culture of capoeira, the Afro Brazilian martial art hidden in dance, to schools, colleges, cultural centers, city parks, senior centers, and special needs populations.
Our Executive Director
Omi Hill, known in the capoeira world as Mestre Omi, is Afro Brazil Art’s Executive and Artistic Director.
He has dedicated over 30 years to practicing capoeira and enriching the lives of people of all ages through his leadership of capoeira programs.
Mestre Omi is widely respected for his capoeira skills and knowledge—especially for his ability to make the art accessible to people who are experiencing it for the first time.
Under his leadership, ABA continues to introduce thousands of youth annually to capoeira through performances and classes featuring capoeira and Brazilian music and dance.
New York Mindful Capoeira Center - Our training center and headquarters for our group in NYC.
Mestre Omi is also the Head Instructor of Ilhe de Palmares, the Brazilian name for our group, where youth and adults learn and practice capoeira year round.
