The ABC of Old Masters of Capoeira

Roda in front of the São Domingos Gusmão Church
Salvador, 1979

October, 2016
M Gato Preto (berimbau, white shirt)
Playing: ? and M Carcará (Edmilson Cruz Lemos)
1979
Photo by H. Pereira
Paolo Gambardella's collection

M Gato Preto (berimbau, white shirt)
Playing: M Carcará? and M Zeca (José Souza Góes, M Gato Preto's son)
1979
Photo byH. Pereira
Magazine Placar, 28th December 1979

Playing: M Gato Preto (white shirt) and M Carcará (Edmilson Cruz Lemos)
1979
Photo by H. Pereira
Prof. Leiteiro's collection
M Gato Preto, 1979

In front of the São Domingos Gusmão Church

The São Domingos Gusmão Church

About M Gato Preto:

«And there was Agostinha, who lived in Ilha do Dendê and I was living in Pilar. If I crossed there, to the other side [..] which was called Ilha do Dendê. She is the holy mother [of candomblé]. I went to her house to have candombré, to learn to play atabaque, sing [..]»
M Gato Preto, 1999
«That time there was a group [in São Braz]: it was me, Messias [M Messias, born in 1929], Zinho, Genesio, Lao, Tomazinho, Jaime, Chumbinho [..] So we had this group of boys who were all 16, 15-16 years old. And we used to get together on Saturdays and Sundays to do this capoeira. And Léo was the mestre.»
M Gato Preto, 1999
«I left Pilar street [in Santo Amaro] being 10 years, 10 to 11 years old, and went to São Braz. [..] I became a fisherman.»
M Gato Preto, 1999

Roda in front of the São Domingos Gusmão Church
Salvador, 1979