Mestre Jaime de Mar Grande, born Jaime Santos Lima on May 24, 1956, in Vera Cruz, on the Ilha de Itaparica, Bahia, is a respected Capoeira Angola mestre, musician, and cultural educator. He is the founder of the Associação Cultural de Capoeira Angola Paraguassu and a leading figure in preserving and transmitting the intertwined traditions of Capoeira Angola and Samba de Roda.

Raised in the Gamboa neighborhood of Vera Cruz, Jaime grew up in a family deeply rooted in music and Afro-Brazilian culture—his father was a self-taught string musician, and his mother a respected sambista. This musical upbringing naturally led him toward Capoeira’s rhythm and song. In 1965, at just nine years old, he began training under Mestre Paulo dos Anjos, a direct disciple of Mestre Canjiquinha, who was then teaching on Itaparica Island.

In 1986, Jaime received the title of Mestre from his teacher Paulo dos Anjos. His practice has since been defined by humility, precision, and faithfulness to the traditional foundations of Capoeira Angola. Known for his rooted and musical style, Mestre Jaime emphasizes Capoeira’s role not just as a martial art, but as a living expression of Afro-Brazilian identity, community, and resistance.

Beyond Capoeira, Mestre Jaime is celebrated as a sambador and founder of the group Samba Tradicional da Ilha, through which he continues the island’s vibrant samba heritage. He recorded the album “Eu Já Canto Há Muitos Anos”, blending the rhythm of samba with the spiritual essence of Capoeira’s music.

Mestre Jaime has also played a key role in reintegrating Mestre Gérson Quadrado into the Capoeira community and frequently collaborates with new generations and international practitioners. Through his association Angola Paraguassu, he organizes rodas, performances, and educational events throughout Brazil—particularly in Bahia and São Paulo—andabroad, spreading Capoeira Angola’s philosophy of respect, rhythm, and awareness.

His educational initiatives include participation in programs such as the “Concertos Didáticos” at the Tribunal de Contas do Município (TCM) in São Paulo, where he teaches children and the public about the history, rhythm, and values of Capoeira and Samba. In September 2024, he joined the cultural event “Raízes que Vêm de Longe” and led a roda de conversa at the Centro Cultural de Ibaté, continuing his lifelong mission of cultural transmission and intergenerational dialogue.

Through his music, teaching, and philosophy, Mestre Jaime de Mar Grande stands as a bridge between generations—a guardian of Capoeira Angola’s ancestral roots and an ambassador of Bahia’s living cultural memory.