Had a conversation w/ someone about capoeira & its origins. I was asked if any other countries had their own African-influenced martial art as well as other art forms from Africa.

Here’s a thread of 10 African martial arts from the continent and its descendants overseas:

1. Dambe - a boxing style martial art

Origins: primarily practiced by the Hausa population in parts of Nigeria, Niger and Chad.

2. Engolo (or NGolo) - a kicking based martial art

Origins: primarily practiced in Southern Angola

The origins of capoeira stemmed from this art.

3. Istunka - a mock combat ritual that is commonly contested during Somali New Year

Origins: Somalia during the Sultanate of Geledi (between the late 17th century to 19 century)

4. Lutte Traditionelle - folk wrestling practiced in West Africa under different names:

Laamb - Senegal
Boreh - The Gambia
Evala - Togo
Kokowa - Nigeria

Also practiced in Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Liberia and the Ivory Coast.

5. Moraingy - a bare-fisted style art

Origins: Madagascar during the Maroseranana Dynasty (1675-1896)

Also practiced in Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles, Mayotte and Reunion Island

6. Tahtib - a stick-fighting art from Egypt that later evolved into a folk dance.

Origins: Ancient Egypt around 2500 BCE

7. Capoeira - a kicking based martial art that includes music, dance and acrobatic elements

Origins: Stems from Engolo & Kipura, started in Brazil during the 16th century

Similar styles were also practiced in Martinique (Danmyé), Suriname (Susa) and Venezuela (Broma)

8. Kalinda - a stick fighting warrior dance from Trinidad & Tobago

Stems from traditions practiced in the Kongo Kingdom

Similar stick/machete fighting styles were also practiced in Barbados, Brazil, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guadalupe, Haiti, Jamaica, the USA & Venezuela

9. Kicking and Knocking - an art that consists of kicks, strikes and head butts from the United States (specifically North and South Carolina)

Origins: movements stem from fighting styles in Central Africa, likely the Kongo Kingdom

10. Juego de Maní - a folkloric fight-dance ritual practiced in Cuba

Origins: the art form started in Cuba during the 19th century. Specific African origins are not 100% clear.

There are others that I didn’t name or grouped with another art of a similar style due to lack of information on the internet.
Many key traditions & info were passed down orally. Some art forms phased out in modern times. Feel free to add to this list and make corrections!

A write up of what was mentioned on this thread can be found here: https://link.medium.com/ob6oppCGR8