The berimbau is a single-string percussion instrument that is fundamental to the Brazilian martial art and dance known as Capoeira. It consists of a wooden bow (biriba), a steel string (arame), and a dried, hollowed-out gourd (cabaça) that acts as a resonator. The player holds the instrument in one hand, using a small stone or coin to change the pitch of the string by pressing against it. In the other hand, the player holds a stick to strike the string and a small rattle (caxixi). The berimbau dictates the rhythm and style of the Capoeira match; a slow rhythm suggests a strategic, low-to-the-ground game, while a fast rhythm indicates an aggressive, acrobatic exchange. It is an instrument of African origin, brought to Brazil during the Atlantic slave trade, and it remains a powerful symbol of Afro-Brazilian cultural identity and resistance.