Mestres

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Mestre João Grande

Capoeira Style: Angola

New York City, New York

Mestre João Grande, a Grand Master of Capoeira Angola with over 70 years of experience, stands as one of the most revered figures in the world of Capoeira. His remarkable journey has earned him numerous accolades, including a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Upsala College in East Orange, NJ, in 1995. In September of 2001, he was honored with the National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts — one of the highest honors for practitioners of traditional arts in the United States.
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Mestre Pastinha

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Vicente Joaquim Ferreira Pastinha, better known as Mestre Pastinha, was born on April 5th, 1889, in Salvador, Bahia. A pivotal figure in the history of Capoeira, Mestre Pastinha's legacy extends far beyond his personal practice of the art form. His father, José Señor Pastinha, a Spaniard who owned a small shop in the center of Salvador, and his mother, Maria Eugenia, a woman from Santo Amaro da Purificação who earned a living selling acarajé and washing clothes, laid the foundation for a life marked by resilience and determination.
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Mestre Cobrinha Verde

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Rafael Alves França, known as Mestre Cobrinha Verde, was born in 1917 in Santo Amaro da Purificação, a city in Bahia, Brazil, which is considered the heart of Capoeira. He was one of the most feared and respected capoeiristas of his time and was known for his unparalleled skills and agility. Mestre Cobrinha Verde claimed to be a direct descendant of the legendary capoeirista Besouro Mangangá, his cousin, and it was with him that he first began practicing Capoeira at the tender age of four. In addition to Besouro, he learned from some of the most famous capoeiristas of the era, including Siri de Mangue, Canário Pardo, and Doze Homens.
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Mestre Waldemar

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Waldemar Rodrigues da Paixão, widely known as Mestre Waldemar, was born in 1916 on the Ilha de Maré, an island in the state of Bahia, Brazil. His introduction to Capoeira began in 1936 at the age of 20. Mestre Waldemar was a student of some of the most renowned Capoeiristas of his time, including Canário Pardo, Peripiri, Talabi, Siri-de-Mangue, and Ricardo of Ilha de Maré. In his own words, he sought these masters to learn the art, aspiring to become a professional and gain a deep understanding of Capoeira: “I asked those men to teach me, so that I could become professional. So that I could say that I knew, and now I know. I learned capoeira.”
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Mestre Moraes

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Pedro Moraes Trindade, commonly known as Mestre Moraes, was born on February 9, 1950, in Ilha de Maré, Salvador, Brazil. He is a renowned mestre of Capoeira, specifically Capoeira Angola, the traditional style of Capoeira in Bahia, Brazil. Mestre Moraes began his training at the age of eight, learning Capoeira de Angola from a young age. His father was also a Capoeirista, which influenced his early exposure to the art.
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Mestre Joao Pequeno

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brasil

João Pereira dos Santos, known as Mestre João Pequeno, was a renowned Brazilian mestre of Capoeira. Born to Maria Clemença de Jesus, a ceramist of indigenous descent, and Maximiliano Pereira dos Santos, a cattle rancher at Fazenda Vargem do Canto in the Queimadas region, João Pequeno's early life was shaped by hardship. At the age of 15, he fled the drought on foot, traveling to Alagoinhas and later to Mata de São João, where he spent ten years working on a sugarcane plantation as a cattle herder. During this time, he met Juvêncio, a blacksmith and capoeirista at Fazenda São Pedro, which sparked his introduction to Capoeira.
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Mestre Cobrinha

Capoeira Style: Angola

Duque de Caxias, Brazil

Mestre Cobra Mansa, born Cinézio Feliciano Peçanha and also known as Cobrinha and Cobrinha Mansa, is a mestre (master) of Capoeira Angola. He is a pivotal figure in the global Capoeira community and one of the founders of FICA (Fundaçao Internacional de Capoeira de Angola), also known as the International Capoeira Angola Foundation (ICAF). FICA/ICAF is the largest standing Capoeira organization in the world, with a broad influence across several continents. The organization has schools and centers in North and South America, Europe, and Asia, collaborating with NGOs and other affiliates, especially in the United States.
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Mestre Bimba

Capoeira Style: Regional

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Manuel dos Reis Machado, known as Mestre Bimba, was a legendary Brazilian capoeira mestre and the founder of Capoeira Regional, one of the two primary branches of capoeira. Born in Salvador in 1899, though officially registered in 1900, his date of birth has been a point of confusion. He was the son of Luiz Cândido Machado and Maria Martinha do Bonfim, and he grew up in Bairro do Engenho Velho, Salvador.
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Mestre Boca Rica

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Boca Rica (Manoel Silva) was born on November 26, 1936, in Maragogipe, Bahia. In the 1950s, he moved to Salvador, where he began his journey in Capoeira Angola with the legendary Mestre Pastinha at the Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola (CECA) in Pelourinho.
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Mestre Anastacio Marrom

Capoeira Style: Angola

Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Born in 1963 in Itabuna, Bahia, Brazil, Mestre Anastácio Marrom was first introduced to Capoeira at an early age. In 1976, he relocated to Rio de Janeiro, where he continued his Capoeira training and development.
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Mestre Jogo De Dentro

Capoeira Style: Angola

Ilha de Itaparica, Bahia, Brasil

Jorge Egídio dos Santos, known as Jogo de Dentro, was born in Alagoinhas on April 6, 1965. His journey into Capoeira Angola began in 1982 at the Forte Santo Antônio in Salvador, BA, where he joined the Academia do Mestre João Pequeno de Pastinha.
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Mestre Marquinho

Capoeira Style: Angola

Olinda, Brasil

Mestre Marquinho is a distinguished figure in the world of Capoeira, originally hailing from Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil. His journey in Capoeira began under the guidance of Mestre Sapo, a pivotal influence in his early years. In 2000, Mestre Marquinho began his training with Mestre João Grande, one of the most respected names in Capoeira Angola, marking a transformative moment in his life and Capoeira practice.
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Mestre Sabia

Capoeira Style: Contemporânea

Barcelona, Spain

Mestre Sabiá, born Jair Oliveira de Faria Junior, is a key figure in the world of Capoeira. He began his journey in the art in 1985 and started teaching in 1989. Mestre Sabiá is recognized for his work with children and is a pioneer in teaching Capoeira in Europe, particularly in Hamburg, Germany, where he worked with children in 1990, becoming a reference for Capoeira education for the younger generation.
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Mestre Jelon

Capoeira Style: Contemporânea

New York City, New York

Mestre Jelon Vieira is the founder of Capoeira Luanda, The Capoeira Foundation, and founder and artistic director of DanceBrazil. He began training in his native Salvador, Bahia, Brazil and was a student of Mestre Ezequiel. Vieira moved to New York City in 1975, and is recognized as one of the first people to bring the Brazilian Art of Capoeira to the United States.
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Mestre Jurandir Santos

Capoeira Style: Angola

Ilha de Itaparica, Bahia, Brasil

Mestre Jurandir, son of the revered Mestre João Grande, was born into the heart of Capoeira Angola. From an early age, Capoeira was a part of his life, with his father, Mestre João Grande, waking him and his brother Jorge early in the morning to train in their backyard. Capoeira was not just a practice for Jurandir, it was a way of life — instilled in him by his father’s dedication and the values of the art.
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Mestre Valmir Damasceno Santos

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Valmir Damasceno Santos, born on August 27, 1965, in Salvador, Bahia, is a renowned figure in the world of Capoeira Angola, both for his deep roots in the tradition and his international contributions to the art form. His journey in Capoeira began in 1982 with Grupo de Capoeira Angola Pelourinho (GCAP), where he was mentored by Mestres Moraes and Cobra Mansa. These early years shaped his passion for Capoeira and provided the foundation for his future as a leading Mestre in the Capoeira Angola community.
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Mestra Janja Araújo

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestra Janja, born Rosângela Costa Araújo on October 4, 1959, in Feira de Santana, Bahia, is a distinguished historian, educator, and Capoeira Angola mestre. Her journey in Capoeira began in 1983 when she started training with the renowned Grupo de Capoeira Angola Pelourinho (GCAP) in Salvador, Bahia. Mestra Janja quickly became known for her dedication to Capoeira and her role in advancing the art form, eventually becoming a contramestra.
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Mestra Paulinha

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestra Paulinha, born Paula Cristina da Silva Barreto, is a distinguished figure in the world of Capoeira Angola and a respected academic in Brazil. With a doctorate in Sociology from the University of São Paulo, Mestra Paulinha is a professor at the Federal University of Bahia, where she lectures on critical topics such as racism, social resistance, culture, and identity. She is also a prolific author, contributing numerous works to the discourse surrounding social justice and the cultural dynamics of Capoeira.
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Mestre Poloca

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Poloca, born Paulo Barreto, is a highly respected figure in Capoeira Angola and a dedicated educator. Currently a staff member at the Federal University of Bahia, he combines his passion for Capoeira with a strong focus on teaching and engaging with local communities, particularly children. His work emphasizes the importance of education and Capoeira in the development of young people, using the art form to instill discipline, respect, and cultural awareness.
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Mestre Camisa

Capoeira Style: Regional

Rio De Janeiro, Brasil

Mestre Camisa, born José Tadeu Carneiro Cardoso on October 28th, 1955, in Jacobina, Bahia, is one of the most influential figures in the world of Capoeira. He is widely known for founding ABADÁ-Capoeira in 1988, an organization that has played a significant role in spreading and formalizing the practice of Capoeira worldwide. Mestre Camisa’s contributions to the art, his dedication to preserving its traditions, and his unique approach to teaching have solidified his legacy as a leading Mestre in the Capoeira community.
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Mestre Bujão

Capoeira Style: Angola

New York City, New York

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Mestre Jurandir Nascimento

Capoeira Style: Angola

Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Mestre Jurandir Nascimento is a pivotal figure in the world of Capoeira Angola, dedicating over three decades to its preservation and promotion. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he began his journey in Capoeira Angola in 1970 and quickly rose to prominence as one of the pioneers of the Grupo de Capoeira Angola Pelourinho (GCAP). His influence expanded further when he founded the N’GOLO Angola group in Minas Gerais in 1990, which later became affiliated with the International Capoeira Angola Foundation (ICAF).
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Mestre KK Bonates

Capoeira Style: Angola

Manaus, Brasil

Mestre KK Bonates (born Luiz Carlos de Matos Bonates on October 19, 1958, in Amazonas, Brazil) is a highly respected figure in the world of Capoeira, with over 45 years of experience in the art form. His journey into Capoeira began in his childhood during the 1970s in Manaus, where he was introduced to the rich traditions of this Afro-Brazilian martial art. Throughout his career, Mestre KK has had the honor of being the contramestre (professor) of several significant figures in Capoeira, including Mestre Gato de Silvestre, Mestre Vermehlo Boxér, and Mestre Miguel Preto.
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Mestre Angelo "Capacete Baraúna"

Capoeira Style: Angola

Rome, Italy

Mestre Capacete Baraúna (born Angelo dos Anjos Oliveira on February 8, 1983, in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) is a respected Capoeira master whose journey in the art form began at the age of 12. His initial steps into Capoeira were guided by Mestre Ricardo “Camisa Furada” from the Grupo Berimbau dos Palmares. After a brief time with Mestre Ricardo, he continued his studies with the renowned Mestre KK Bonates, who played a significant role in shaping his path.
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Mestre Salim Rolins

Capoeira Style: Angola

Nairobi, Kenya

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Mestre Nenel

Capoeira Style: Regional

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Nenel (Manoel Nascimento Machado), born on September 26, 1960, in Salvador, Bahia, is one of the leading figures in the preservation and promotion of Capoeira Regional, the style created by his father, Mestre Bimba. He is the son of Mestre Bimba, the pioneer of Capoeira Regional, and Berenice da Conceição Nascimento, and was raised by Alice Maria da Cruz, affectionately known as Mãe Alice.
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Mestre Canjiquinha

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Canjiquinha (born Washington Bruno da Silva on 1925 in Salvador, Bahia – died 1994) was a significant figure in Capoeira Angola and one of the leading figures of contemporary Capoeira. Known for his profound impact on Capoeira, Mestre Canjiquinha was one of the few mestres who didn't emphasize the traditional division between Capoeira Angola and Capoeira Regional, instead viewing them as primarily different rhythms.
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Mestre Leopoldinha

Capoeira Style: Angola

São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil

Mestre Leopoldina (born Demerval Lopes de Lacerda on 1933 in Rio de Janeiro – died October 17, 2007, in São José dos Campos, SP) was a significant figure in Capoeira Carioca and a respected mestre in the velha guarda (old guard) of Capoeira. Known for his unique and quick playing style, Leopoldina became famous for his mastery of the berimbau and his role in preserving the traditions of Capoeira.
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Mestre Curió

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Curió (born Jaime Martins dos Santos on January 23, 1937, in Candeias, Bahia) is a revered Capoeira Angola mestre and one of the most influential figures in the global Capoeira community. Known for his unpredictable and theatrical style, Mestre Curió is considered a guardian of the traditions and philosophy of Capoeira Angola. His legacy ext...
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Mestre Caiçara

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Caiçara (born Antonio Carlos Moraes in 1923) was a renowned Brazilian Capoeira Mestre whose influence extended far beyond the art itself, deeply interwoven with the social and cultural fabric of Pelourinho, a historic neighborhood in Salvador, Bahia. Mestre Caiçara was a unique figure, known for his mastery in Capoeira, but equally recognized for his deep connections with the street politics and criminal elements of the area, which shaped both his personal and professional life.
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Mestre Aberrê

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Aberrê, born Antônio Raimundo Argolo on August 6, 1895, in Salvador, Bahia, was a crucial figure in the development and preservation of Capoeira Angola. His legacy is felt through the generations of capoeiristas he influenced, including notable masters like Mestre Canjiquinha and Mestre Caiçara, both of whom carried his teachings forward. Me...
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Mestre Besouro Mangangá

Capoeira Style: Capoeira

Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brasil

Besouro Mangangá, born Manoel Henrique Pereira in 1895 in Santo Amaro, Bahia, is one of the most legendary figures in the history of Capoeira. His name, "Besouro" (meaning "beetle"), and his mythic qualities have become synonymous with the power, agility, and spiritual depth of the art. His story, marked by extraordinary feats and mysticism, continues to captivate Capoeira practitioners and enthusiasts worldwide.
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Mestre Noronha

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Noronha, born Daniel Coutinho on August 3, 1909, in Salvador, Bahia, is remembered as one of the most influential Capoeira Angola masters of the early 20th century. His journey through Capoeira and life made him a pivotal figure in preserving and promoting Capoeira Angola at a time when the art was still considered illegal and marginalized by society.
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Mestre Plinio

Capoeira Style: Angola

São Paulo, Brasil

Mestre Plínio is a prominent figure in the world of Capoeira Angola, recognized for his significant contributions to the art form and Afro-Brazilian cultural promotion. He founded the Centro de Capoeira Angola Angoleiro Sim Sinhô in 1995, based in São Paulo, Brazil. This center has since grown to include multiple branches across Brazil and internationally, including in Argentina, Greece, and Spain.
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Mestre Moa do Catendê

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Moa do Katendê, born Romualdo Rosário da Costa on October 29, 1954, in Salvador, Bahia, is celebrated as one of the most influential figures in the world of Capoeira Angola. A gifted composer, percussionist, artisan, educator, and mestre, he transcended the role of capoeira teacher to become a beacon of cultural resistance and resilience.
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Mestre Gaguinho

Capoeira Style: Angola

São Paulo, Brasil

Raimundo Daniel de Paula, known as Mestre Gaguinho, was born on the island of Itaparica, Bahia, in 1935. His legacy is deeply rooted in two significant lineages: the Daniel de Paula family, who have been the custodians of the Egungun cult on Itaparica Island for many years, and the Capoeira Angola tradition, where he became a disciple of Mestre Pastinha upon joining the CECA at Pelourinho.
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Mestre Mario Pereira

Capoeira Style: Angola

New York City, New York

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Mestre Sapo

Capoeira Style: Angola

Olinda, Brasil

Humberto Ferreira de Mendonça, widely known as Mestre Sapo in the Capoeira community, was born on April 5, 1973, in Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil. From an early age, he immersed himself in the art of Capoeira, a martial art with roots in African traditions brought to Brazil during the Atlantic slave trade. His journey into Capoeira began in his neighborhood and later expanded significantly.
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Mestre Benedito

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Tio Alipio

Capoeira Style: Angola

Brasil

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Mestre Benedito Carroceiro

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Mestre Bobó

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Bobó, born Milton Santos on March 25, 1925, in Salvador, Bahia, remains an iconic figure in the world of Capoeira Angola and the samba culture of Brazil. Emerging from humble beginnings, he worked as a fisherman, shoeshiner, and construction laborer, yet his heart always belonged to the rhythms and movements of capoeira and samba. His childhood nickname, “Bobó,” likened him to a small local fish, a name that would later become synonymous with mastery, grace, and the spirit of Bahian capoeira.
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Mestre Lua de Bobó

Capoeira Style: Angola

Arembepe, Bahia, Brasil

Mestre Lua de Bobó, widely known simply as Mestre Lua, stands as a revered figure in the world of Capoeira Angola, embodying the spirit, tradition, and vibrancy of this art form. Born in 1950 in the coastal town of Arembepe, his journey into Capoeira Angola began early under the careful mentorship of Mestre Bobó (Milton Santos). From those formative years, Mestre Lua absorbed not only the techniques of the game but also the values of dedication, courage, and the profound responsibility of passing knowledge to future generations.
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Mestre Augustino

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Samoel Querido de Deus

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Samuel Francisco Barreto de Souza - Dear Master of God
18?? - 194?
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Mestre Samoelzinho

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Candido Pequeno

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Bugalho

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Pelé da Bomba

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Natalício Neves da Silva - Mestre Pelé da Bomba
25 December 1934 - 26 October 2024
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Mestre Popô

Capoeira Style: Angola

Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil

Master Popó of Maculelê (Paulino Almeida de Andrade)
15 March 1876 - 16 September 1969 - Santo Amaro, Bahia
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Mestre Zeca do Uruguai

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Zeca from Uruguay - The Old Masters of the Lower City
Ribeira - Massaranduba - Bonfim - Uruguai - Salvador
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Mestre Pierrô

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Nilton

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

Nilton Moraes Paes (16 Oct 1937 - before 1979)
Massaranduba - Ribeira - Uruguai - Jardim Cruzeiro - Salvador, BA
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Mestre Cutica

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Cutica was a capoeirista and one of the early teachers of Mestre Norival Moreira de Oliveira. He was also the brother of Mestre Nilton, and together they introduced Norival to other elder masters like Pirró and Zeca. Both Mestre Nilton and Mestre Cutica were highly respected in the capoeira community.
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Mestre Nô

Capoeira Style: Angola

Ilha de Itaparica, Bahia, Brasil

Norival Moreira de Oliveira - Mestre Nô
Born June 22, 1945 - Coroa, Itaparica - Capoeira Angola Palmares
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Mestre Espinho Remoso

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Espinho Remoso - Elízio Maximiano Ferreira
1910, Teixeira de Freitas, Bahia - 1960, Salvador - Capoeira Angola
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Mestre Virgílio da Fazenda Grande

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Virgílio Maximiano Ferreira - Master Virgílio da Fazenda Grande
Born December 3, 1944 - Salvador, Bahia
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Mestre Diogo

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Coshe

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Moisés

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Zé-do-Lenço

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Master Zé-do-Lenço (José Alves) - Salvador, Bahia
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Mestre Siri de Mangue

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Calabi de Piri Piri

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Ricardo das Docas

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Canario Pardo

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Gato Preto

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Gato Preto - José Gabriel Góes
19 March 1930 (per his own words) - 6 August 2002 - Santo Amaro da Purificação → Salvador
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Mestre Bom Cabrito

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mário Rodrigues Ferreira do Rosário - Master Mário Bom Cabrito
13 March 1944 - 22 May 2000
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Mestre Marcelino

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Gigante

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Francisco de Assis - Mestre Gigante (Bigodinho, Pequenininho)
4 October 1920 - 30 May 2016 - Santo Amaro → Salvador
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Mestre Boa Gente

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Antônio Asa branca

Capoeira Style: Angola

Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brasil

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Mestre Ferreirinha

Capoeira Style: Angola

Santo Amaro da Purificação, Bahia

José Ferreira dos Santos - Mestre Ferreirinha
1925 - 1998 - Santo Amaro da Purificação, Bahia
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Mestre Macaco

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

Macaco started practicing with Mestre Ferreirinha in the 1970s and was recognized as a mestre in 1985.
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Mestre Ivan

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Ivan began with Mestre Ferreirinha in 1976 at the age of ten and trained for a decade.
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Mestre Boa Gente do Antônio

Capoeira Style: Angola

Vale das Pedrinhas, Brazil

Vivaldo Rodrigues Conceição - Master Good People
Born 17 May 1945 - Ibicaraí, Bahia → Ilhéus → Salvador
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Mestre Antônio Cabeceiro

Capoeira Style: Angola

Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre José de Freitas

Capoeira Style: Angola

Alagoinhas, Bahia, Brazil

José de Freitas - Master Zé de Freitas
April 29, 1926, Macaquinhos, BA - May 3, 2014, Alagoinhas, BA
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Mestre Mello

Capoeira Style: Angola

São Paulo, Brasil

Antônio Gonçalves de Mello - Mestre Mello (Melo)
June 4, 1920, Minas Gerais - 1990, São Paulo
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Mestre Carapau

Capoeira Style: Angola

São Bernardo do Campo, Brasil

José Paulo Dias Carapau - Master Carapau
12 Feb 1948, Porto Ferreira (SP) - Mar 2010, São Bernardo do Campo (SP)
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Mestre Índio do Melo

Capoeira Style: Angola

Brasil

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Mestre Deo

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brasil

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Mestre Bel

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Helio Grande

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Chita

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Tata

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Cabelo Bom

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Bigodinho

Capoeira Style: Angola

Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Bigodinho - Reinaldo Santana
1933 - Recôncavo Baiano → April 5, 2011, Santo Amaro
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Mestre Traíra

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

João Ramos do Nascimento - Mestre Traíra
c. 1925, Cachoeira (BA) - c. 1975, Salvador (BA)
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Mestre Macaro

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Daui

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Brandão

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Américo Araújo Brandão - Master Brandão
10 Feb 1930, Amargosa (BA) - 30 Apr 2024
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Mestre Gildo Alfinete

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Gildo Lemos Couto - Master Gildo Alfinete
16 Jan 1940, Salvador (Tororó) - 12 Oct 2015, Salvador
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Mestre Papo Amarelo

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Zacarias Boa Morte

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Zacarias Boa Morte
5 Nov 1923 - 3 Nov 2000 - Salvador, Bahia
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Mestre Fernandinho Pipoqueiro

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Fernandinho Pipoqueiro

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Bola Sete

Capoeira Style: Angola

Recôncavo, Bahia, Brasil

José Luiz Oliveira Cruz - Mestre Bola Sete
31 May 1950, Santo Antônio de Jesus (BA)
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Mestre Pessoa Bababá

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Pessoa Bababá
Merchant seaman, disciple of Mestre Pastinha, and a quiet pillar of the Angola lineage, Pessoa Bababá taught the old game the old way: low light, small room, full attention. In 1968 he began training the young José Luiz “Bola Sete”, meeting him in the basement of a building in Salvador for about a year before guiding him to Pastinha’s academy in 1969. Remembered as “muito forte e valente,” Bababá was a traditional angoleiro who insisted on ritual, measure, and defense over show.
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Mestre Vermelho da Moenda

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Mestre Vermelho de Pastinha (Maurício Lemos de Carvalho)
9 Mar 1946 - 30 Mar 2022
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Mestre Antônio

Capoeira Style: Angola

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Bigo

Capoeira Style: Angola

São Paulo, Brasil

Master Bigo (Francisco Thomé dos Santos Filho, "Francisco 45")
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Mestre Juvêncio Grosso

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Barbosa

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Gilvenson

Capoeira Style: Angola

Bahia, Brazil

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Mestre Cigano

Capoeira Style: Contemporânea

Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil

Founder and president of Grupo Liberdade de Capoeira in 1986 in Rio de Janeiro, a pioneer in the state of N.J.-U.S.A.
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