This is the final post on Mestre Suassuna’s biography, in it he covers his decision of moving to São Paulo, his difficulties as an interstate migrant and harsh times endeavouring to establish the practice of Capoeira in the South-east of Brazil.
Continuing the posts on Mestre Suassuna’s biography, in this third post he shares more of trips to Salvador and the cultural context of that time. He also shares his experience with the beginning of the folkloric groups, Capoeira Angola and Regional, and why he believes Mestres Pastinha and Bimba surpassed the others. (more…)
This is the second post of the series on Mestre Suassuna’s life. It approaches his first trips to Salvador, contacts with other Mestres, and early take on Capoeira teaching in Itabuna. (more…)
This post on Mestre Suassuna’s life is a translation (made by me) from the chapter “Reynaldo Ramos Suassuna. Mestre Suassuna by himself” in Mestre Deputado’s book “Menino Quem foi teu Mestre?”(2004).
“My name is Waldemar Rodrigues da Paixão, I was born in 1916, learnt Capoeira from Siri de Mangue, Canário Pardo, Calabi de Periperi… I took 4 years learning, in 40 I was teaching on the Pero Vaz [street from Salvador, Bahia]. Then I kept teaching, now I stopped, I only handicraft my berimbaus.”
(From Paixão, Waldemar da, & Silva, Washington Bruno da, Mestre Waldemar e Mestre Canjiquinha, disco; 1984.)
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Waldemar da Paixão was probably the last Capoeira Mestre teaching informaly. Meanwhile Mestres like Bimba and Pastinha were teaching in academies, he insisted in teaching his apprentices in his roda in the famous ‘Barracão de Waldemar’ (a hut covered with straw), using informal methods. (more…)
Mestre Angoleiro, by Alice Martins
The first version of this article was written in the 26th of December, 2006 in Brasília, and took chance of an episode with Meste Angoleiro (on the photo), followed with a good chat with him, to discuss some dangers of a traditionalist approach to Capoeira.
After meeting some new friends and bouncing back these ideas, I realised that the issue is as pertinent as ever, so here it goes a revised version as an inaugural posting.
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Capoeira – The Brazilian Peoples’ Wisdom
-“Capoeira is the Brazilian peoples’ wisdom.” This is how Mestre Angoleiro (J. Bamberg), Mestre Bimba’s disciple, tells us how his teacher use to define Capoeira. Today, Mestre Angoleiro feels bothered by the “new traditions” in Capoeira… Quite a fellow!
A while ago arriving at an event, he was presented before starting the roda holding his berimbau viola. The responsible came and said: “- Mestre, here is the gunga for you!” Mestre Angoleiro insisted on playing his own viola and yet another comment followed: “-Here in this group the tradition is that the gunga comands the roda and, since you are the oldest Mestre here, you must play the gunga.” Mestre Angoleiro gingou1 for a while from outside the roda, without playing either instruments or singing any song, patiently waiting until the end of the event, and then thanked everyone before leaving. (more…)
