Capoeira Music by Mestre Bimba

Mestre Bimba -Criador da Capoeira Regional

Mestre Bimba - Criador da capoeira regionalManoel dos Reis Machado was born on 23rd November 1899, in the neighbourhood of Brotas, Engenho Velho, in the city of Salvador, state of Bahia, the son of Luis Candido Machado, batuque artist, and Dona Maria Martinha do Bonfim. His capoeira name, Mestre Bimba, arose from a bet between his mother and the midwife as to whether he would be a boy or a girl. Being a boy, he had a Bimba, referring to his masculine genital organs.

Feeling that capoeira was losing its characteristics, he, possessing a creative spirit and great intelligence, decided to create a particular method, known today as Regional Baiana. Excellent practitioner of capoeria and intimate with Batuque (ancient art of fighting now disused), Mestre Bimba became the great name of capoeira, being the image itself of the fight.

In 1932 he founded the first specialised academy, in Engenho Velho do Brotas. At this time he also taught in people’s homes, in the ‘Roca do Lobo’. On 9th June 1937, he registered his Capoeira Scool with the Secretary of Education, Helth and Public Assistance, becoming the first authorised academy to lecture Capoeira. In 1939 he taught ‘regional’ in the army base of the CPOR. He established his second academy in 1942.

On 23rd July 1953, when the President Getulio Vargas watched in the Palacio da Aclamacao, together with Dr Regis Pachecho, then Govenor of Bahia, a presentation of capoeria regional by Mestre Bimba. The president confirmed that capoeira was a unique and truly national sport. He also administered his course in colleges and army and military police headquarters.

Information was taken from “Filhos de Bimba” website