1900 > 1930

According to the writer Liberac, "Manoel Henrique Pereira, commonly referred to as “Besouro de Maganga” was born in the city of Santo Amaro da Purificaçao in 1885; he is the most famous Capoeirista of all time. His name has been engraved in history and in the memory of Capoeiristas from Bahia and of people who train Capoeira in Brazil and across the world ". He adds that "Besouro de Maganga trained Capoeira before the era of Mestre Pastinha and Mestre Bimba". The folklorist Edison Carneiro says that: "The most famous national Capoeirista originated from Santo Amaro, the sugar cane zone of Bahia, and his nickname was Besouro de Mangangá, i.e. a venomous species of a beetle. He was invincible and unequal. Up to today, Capoeira songs depict his legendary prowess: he was the Mestre of Mestres ". ...

Mestre Tiburcinho, also known as Tiburcio Jaguaripe, is one of the few Capoeiristas known as a Mestre of Batuque too. He was also a Grand Mestre of Capoeira and an important figure in the popular Brazilian culture.   Tiburcio Santana Joseph was born in 1870 in Jaguaripe. He learnt batuque under Mestre Bernardo, in the same Reconcavo. He was a big batuqueiro and one of the last ones to preserve this art. After having moved to Salvador (like several other workers at the time), he learnt about Capoeira at the Mercado Popular and trained with the local Capoeiristas, becoming one of them. He was recognised for his skills in Capoeira circles.   After some time, Mestre Tiburcinho began to visit Mestre Pastinha’s academy and was often seen there. Even after he turned 80 years old, he was regarded as a malicious Capoeirista, a dangerous mandingueiro. He always sang about batuque, a practice that he continued to keep the art alive. Another important aspect of the Brazilian culture, is that Mestre Tiburcinho helped Mestre Bimba (introduced to the founder of Capoeira Regional by Mestre Decânio) to remember many old songs and, he also brought back to life the choreography of Maculelê. Thanks to his help, Mestre Bimba...

Antonio Laurindo Neves was born on 17 September 1894. He is a contemporary of Mestre Bimba and Pastinha, and is one of the biggest names in Capoeira from Bahia. He was originally from the island of Maré (from where he gets his name) at the All Saints’ bay, and he is the one who came up with the expression "Galanteria da capoeira ", in reference to the nobility of Capoeiristas from old Bahia. The write Edison Carneiro unreservedly declares that at the time: "The best Capoeiristas from Bahia were the fisherman Samuel Querido de Deus and the stevedore Maré." In Mestre Noronha’s words, Mestre Maré, Amorzinho, Livinho and himself were the "donos e proprietarios" of the first Capoeira Centre (Gengibirra), located at Ladeira de Pedra, in the area of Liberdade in Salvador. A large number of Capoeiristas came to this centre at the time, such as Onça Preta, Bigode de Seda, Bom nome, Juvenal Engraxate among many others. When Amorzinho passed away, Mestre Pastinha became the head of the centre. In 1968, he was shown immersed in a ginga with mestre Noronha in Jair Moura’s movie: "Dança de guerra", next to Joao Pequeno & Joao Grande Mestre Totonho de Maré died on 18 October 1974....

Daniel Coutinho was born in Salvador de Bahia in 1909, in the lower area of "Sapateiros" (Salvador de Bahia) and began his Capoeira training with Cândido da Costa (Cândido Pequeno) when he was 8 years old. He was affiliated with Livinho, Totonho de Maré, Amorzinho, Aberrê, Percílio, Geraldo Chapeleiro, Juvenal Engraxate, Geraldo Pé de Abelha, Zehí, Feliciano Bigode de Seda, Bom Nome, Henrique Cara Queimada, Onça Preta, Cimento, Argemiro Grande, Olho de Pombo, Antônio Galindeu, Antônio Boca de Porco, Cândido Pequeno (Argolinha de Ouro), Lúcio Pequeno and Paquete do Cabula. He founded the "First Centre of Capoeira Angola in the state of Bahia", Ladeira da Pedra, Gengibirra, in the area of Liberdade. As mentioned by Antonio Liberac: Mestre Noronha and Mestre Livino managed the "Centro de Capoeira Angola da Conceição da Praia". The colours of this centre were green and yellow, the colours of the Brazilian flag, and they were symbolized on the clothes worn by the trainees. They performed various Capoeira exhibitions. He died in 1977 and left behind some manuscripts put together by Frede Abreu which were published by the National Programme of Capoeira, entitled the "ABC da Capoeira Angola". "Capoeira must be well nurtured so that it can be taught to the upper...

Mestre Bimba (Manoel dos Reis Machado) was born in Salvador in the year 1899 but was not officially registered until 1900, resulting in some confusion surrounding his date of birth. The son of Luiz Cândido Machado and Maria Martinha do Bonfim, Manoel was born at the Bairro do Engenho Velho, Salvador. The nickname "Bimba" came up due to a bet between his mother and the midwife during his birth; his mother bet that he was going to be a girl and the midwife bet he would be a boy. After he was delivered, the midwife said...

Rafael Alves Franca, was born in Santo Amaro da Purificação, and grew up playing capoeira on the streets. He became one of the most feared and respected capoeiristas of his time. He claimed Besouro was his first mestre but also his cousin and that he nicknamed him "Cobrinha Verde" because of his agility and dexterity, especially with his legs. Besides Besouro, he also had the opportunity to learn from some of the most famous capoeiristas of that time, Maitá, Licurí, Joité, Dendê, Gasolina, Siri de Mangue, Doze Homens, Espiridião, Juvêncio Grosso, Espinho Remoso, Neco, Canário Pardo and Tonha. He always taught capoeira for free because, as he said, his cousin Besouro made him promise never to charge money to teach the art of capoeira. Alongside the rodas of Mestre Bimba, Mestre Pastinha, and Mestre Waldemar, this mestre's roda was one of the most respected rodas in Brazil. During part of his life, he traveled widely and had interesting adventures, like following the band of outlaws led by Horace de Matos. In one of these adventures, as he told, armed with an 18 inch machete he faced eight policemen who opened fire on him. But he was able to divert all the bullets with his...