Full name: Eziquiel Martins Marinho
Also known as: Mestre Eziquiel, Velho Zica
Born: October 18, 1941 – São Gonçalo dos Campos, Bahia
Died: March 26, 1997 – Salvador, Bahia
Lineage: Formado (blue scarf) of Mestre Bimba
Affiliation: Founder of Grupo Luanda (with Mestre Franklin)

Early Life and Training

Eziquiel Martins Marinho began learning capoeira as a child, in the informal, street-based way typical of Salvador’s neighborhoods. In the early 1960s he was brought to Mestre Bimba’s Centro de Cultura Física Regional by the student Sacy. Once inside Bimba’s academy, he remained for good, completing the full sequence of training and earning the blue scarf, becoming one of Bimba’s faithful students.

His dedication made him a respected representative of Capoeira Regional, especially in the practical elements of the style such as jogos de Iúna, Benguela, São Bento Grande, and the execution of sequences and balões.

Teaching Career and Police Training

For many years, Mestre Eziquiel served in the Polícia Militar Baiana, where he began teaching capoeira to police recruits. His role at the barracks of Dendezeiros marked the start of his long teaching career.

In 1972, when Mestre Bimba left Salvador for Goiânia, Eziquiel—together with Mestre Vermelho 27—assumed responsibility for maintaining the academy at Terreiro de Jesus, continuing the work of their mestre.

Grupo Luanda

In 1964, side by side with Mestre Franklin, he founded Grupo Luanda in Salvador. The group became known not only for capoeira instruction but also for its cultural presentations, which included:

• Maculelê

• Samba de Roda

• Puxada de Rede

• Folkloric shows highlighting Afro-Brazilian culture

Grupo Luanda performed throughout Brazil and internationally, helping introduce capoeira and Afro-Brazilian traditions to broader audiences.

Cultural Promotion and Achievements

Mestre Eziquiel was one of the most active cultural promoters of his generation. He participated in major folklore groups, including Olodum and Olodumaré, earning several awards:

• First place twice at the Festival Internacional de Folclore in Salta, Argentina

• “Campeão de Folclore” in Quito, Ecuador, receiving the Huminaua de Oro

• Brazilian title for “Best Ginga” (1976)

In 1987, he participated in important national events such as the XVI Jogos Escolares Brasileiros (JEBs) and the I Jornada Cultural de Capoeira in Ouro Preto.

In 1989, he recorded his album "Capoeira, Arte e Ofício", which helped spread his voice, rhythm, and compositions across Brazil.

Philosophy and Concerns

Mestre Eziquiel often spoke about two issues that worried him:

1. Respect and discipline in the roda, which he saw as essential for maintaining the foundations of capoeira.

2. Conflict between groups, which he believed could damage capoeira’s unity and future if not addressed with communication and mutual respect.

He feared that inexperienced practitioners might distort the art if they ignored its core principles and traditions.

Character and Legacy

Known for his humility, generosity, strong voice, and joyful presence, Mestre Eziquiel had a unique way of raising the axé of any roda or batizado. His singing style and compositions earned him recognition as one of the notable capoeira cantadores of his time.

He passed away in 1997 after a sudden heart attack, at the height of his mastery, leaving behind a powerful legacy in capoeira, music, and Afro-Brazilian culture.

Among Mestre Bimba’s students, he remains one of the figures most responsible for preserving and transmitting the philosophy, techniques, and spirit of Capoeira Regional.