Master Bimba once said “Capoeira is for all, but not all are for Capoeira.” Rightly said and in here you will find some names that made their way into Capoeira’s history.
Ganga Zumba – (1630 – 1678) was the first leader of the massive runaway slave settlement of Quilombo dos Palmares
Zumbi (1655 – November 20, 1695) a warrior who became the symbol of anti-slave and anti-colonial resistance, aka Zumbi dos Palmares.
Master Pastinha – (April 5, 1889 – November 13, 1981 Salvador da Baiha, Brazil) Creator of the style Capoeira Angola. Jogo de Angola a slow game and closer to ground with a lot of malice and “mandinga” as in being shrewd as demonstrated in being skilled in deception, but never violent but dangerous.
Besouro Mangangá – (1895 – 1924 Bahia, Brasil) The invictus! Besouro Mangangá a legend that till date has many songs as tribute to his bravery and notable capoeira skills. He was an exmious capoeira fighter that was only took down, by betrayal.
Master Bimba – (November 23, 1899 – February 5, 1974) Creator of Capoeira Regional Baiana another style of capoeira palyed standingand which is faster and full of high spin kicks and acrobatics making it very popular and impressive to bystanders and general public.
The above are the percursors of Capoeira Antiga in it’s closest to the original forms, since both Master Pastinha and Master Bimba have learned from Africans who passed on the knowledge to them.
They are also the motivators to the evolution of capoeira to what is now called Capoeira Brasileira or Capoeira Contemporanea (Contemporary Capoeira).
There are other great references as, Besouro Mangangá, Manduca da Praia, Nascimento Grande, Master Aberrê, Geraldo Chapeleiro, Totonho Maré, Creoni, Chico Três Pedacos, Pedro Paulo Barroquinha, Barboza, Master Caiçara and Master Canjiquinha, Master Amorzinho, Master Bira de Oxossi, Master Brasil, Master Bugalho, Master Capelao, Master Cobrinha Verde, Master Di Mola, Master Dois de Ouro, Master Indio, Master Pelé da Bomba, Master Traira, Mestre Waldemar.
Master Ataaré D’Costa – Carlos Alberto Vieira Da Costa, Ataare D’Costa, was born in Luanda, (Angola), on October 7th 1976. He began to practice Capoeira in 1993, at 16 years old, he is the Head Master of Capoeira Antiga and currently teaching in France, Clermont Ferrand.