Group · Angola
Gengibirra · Jinjibirra · Centro de Capoeira Angola
Seat Liberdade, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Dated moments of this group, from the corpus.5 undated moments are listed under Relations
The Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola, known as Gengibirra, was the first organized center for Capoeira Angola in the state of Bahia, founded in the 1920s at Ladeira de Pedra in the Liberdade neighborhood, Salvador. The center was established during a dangerous period - the Penal Code of 1890 criminalized capoeira with imprisonment of 2-6 months, and police chief Pedro Gordilho ("Pedrito") terrorized practitioners with his mounted cavalry from 1920-1927.
According to Mestre Noronha's manuscripts, 22 mestres founded the center, with four recognized as "donos e proprietarios" (organizational leaders): Noronha, his brother Livino, Totonho de Mare, and Amorzinho. The center adopted green and yellow - the colors of the Brazilian flag - as its official colors.
Amorzinho's role as a civil guard (guarda civil) was critical. Portal Capoeira states: "Pela sua funcao, o guarda civil PROTEGIA o pessoal todo que praticava aquela Arte marginal, contravencao proibidissima no pais inteiro." As a uniformed preventive police officer, he could warn of operations, vouch for gatherings, and intervene if other officers arrived - providing institutional protection from within the system that persecuted capoeira.
The handover to Mestre Pastinha is told in two versions. Pastinha's own manuscripts (1960) and his 1967 interview say Amorzinho, the group's owner, handed him the capoeira in person on 23 February 1941, the day Pastinha dates the birth of his Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola (CECA). Noronha's manuscripts say the mestres handed the Centro to Pastinha because of Amorzinho's death (1943, per later accounts). The Centro Nacional is therefore dated until Amorzinho's death, and CECA, a separate record, from 1941.
Gengibirra traces its origins to the 1920s when capoeira was still criminalized in Brazil. The Penal Code of 1890 (Article 402) made "exercises of agility and bodily skill known by the denomination Capoeiragem" punishable by two to six months imprisonment, with gang membership as an aggravating factor. This law remained in effect until 1940.
The founding years of Gengibirra (1920s) coincided with the most intense period of persecution under Pedro de Azevedo Gordilho ("Pedrito"), the brutal police chief whose mounted cavalry terrorized capoeiristas throughout Salvador from 1920-1927. His persecution was so notorious that capoeiristas created the "Cavalaria" toque - a berimbau rhythm mimicking approaching horses - to warn when police were near.
According to Mestre Noronha, before Gengibirra there was an earlier attempt to organize the "Conjunto de Capoeira de Angola Conceicao da Praia." The founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra included: Noronha, Livino, Mare (Totonho de Mare), Amorzinho, Raimundo ABR (Aberre), Percilio, Geraldo Chapeleiro, Juvenal Engraxate, Geraldo Pe de Abelha, Zehi, Feliciano Bigode de Seda, Bom Nome, Henrique Cara Queimada, Onca Preta, Cimento, Argemiro Grande, Olho de Pombo, Antonio Galindeu, Antonio Boca de Porco, Candido Pequeno (Argolinha de Ouro), Lucio Pequeno, and Paquete do Cabula. Some editions of the list print "Algemiro Grande Olho de Pombo" as one entry, which gives 21 names; whether Argemiro Grande and Olho de Pombo were one person or two is unconfirmed.
Amorzinho's role as a civil guard (guarda civil) was critical to the center's survival. Portal Capoeira states: "Pela sua funcao, o guarda civil PROTEGIA o pessoal todo que praticava aquela Arte marginal, contravencao proibidissima no pais inteiro." As a uniformed member of the preventive police force, he could warn of planned operations, vouch for gatherings, and intervene if other officers arrived - providing institutional protection from within the system that persecuted capoeira.
On February 23, 1941, Mestre Aberre brought Mestre Pastinha to the Sunday roda. In Pastinha's version, Amorzinho handed him the capoeira that day, and Pastinha dates the birth of his Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola (CECA) to it. In Noronha's version, the mestres handed the Centro to Pastinha because of Amorzinho's death; later accounts place that death in 1943 (no primary source gives the year). Without their protector within the system, the mestres scattered. The Centro Nacional is dated until Amorzinho's death; CECA continues as its own record.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Livino1920s
Location: Liberdade, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
One of four "donos e proprietários" (organizational leaders) of Gengibirra alongside Noronha, Totonho de Maré, and Amorzinho. Also one of the 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Percílio1920s
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra, Gengibirra.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Geraldo Chapeleiro1920s
Location: Liberdade, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra (Gengibirra).
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Noronha1920s
One of four "donos e proprietários" (organizational leaders) of Gengibirra alongside Livino, Totonho de Maré, and Amorzinho. Also one of the 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Cara Queimada1920s
Location: Liberdade, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra, Gengibirra.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Bom Nome1920s
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra, Gengibirra.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Bigode de Seda1920s
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra, Gengibirra.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Galindeu1920s
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra, Gengibirra.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Totonho de Maré1920s
One of four "donos e proprietários" (organizational leaders) of Gengibirra alongside Noronha, Livino, and Amorzinho. One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Amorzinho1920s
One of four "donos e proprietários" (organizational leaders) of Gengibirra alongside Noronha, Livino, and Totonho de Maré. Also one of the 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Lúcio Pequeno1920s
Listed among the 22 founding mestres of Gengibirra in Mestre Noronha's manuscripts. Precise founding year uncertain but documented as 1920s (192X); the earlier 1922 had no source (#1348).
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Paquete do Cabula1920s
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra, Gengibirra.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Aberrê1920s
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra (Gengibirra). Listed as "Raimundo ABR". Later introduced Pastinha to the roda on Feb 23, 1941.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Geraldo Pé de Abelha1920s
Location: Liberdade, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra, Gengibirra.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Onça Preta1920s
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra (Gengibirra).
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Cândido Pequeno1920s
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra (Gengibirra). Recognized as "champion of capoeira in the State of Bahia".
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Boca de Porco1920s
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra, Gengibirra.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Cimento1920s
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra, Gengibirra.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Juvenal Engraxate1920s
Location: Liberdade, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra, Gengibirra. The four "donos e proprietários" were Noronha, Livino, Totonho de Maré, and Amorzinho, with 18 other mestres including Juvenal as co-founders.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Zehí1920s
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra, Gengibirra.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola co-founded by Olho de Pombo1920s
One of 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola at Ladeira de Pedra, Gengibirra. Listed in Noronha manuscripts as part of "Algemiro Grande Olho de Pombo longshoreman" entry. Worked as longshoreman (estivador).
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola led by Noronha1920s – 23 February 1941
One of four "donos e proprietários" providing organizational leadership. Term indicates custodianship/leadership, not property ownership (Ladeira de Pedra was a public street).
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola led by Totonho de Maré1920s – 23 February 1941
One of four "donos e proprietários" providing organizational leadership. Term indicates custodianship/leadership, not property ownership (Ladeira de Pedra was a public street).
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola led by Amorzinho1920s – 1943
One of four "donos e proprietários" AND the primary roda leader. His profession as civil guard provided crucial protection from police. Pastinha called him "the owner of that capoeira". His death in 1943 triggered the Centro's dispersal. Death year 1943 from secondary sources only (Portal Capoeira); no primary source.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola led by Livino1920s – 23 February 1941
One of four "donos e proprietários" providing organizational leadership. Term indicates custodianship/leadership, not property ownership (Ladeira de Pedra was a public street).
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola had Américo Ciência as a member? – 23 February 1941
Listed among mestres at the Liberdade/Gengibirra roda alongside Antônio, Maré, Daniel, Livino Diogo, Alemão, Bulgário, Barbosa, Domingos Magalhães, Eulâmpio, Butique. Note: NOT among the 22 founding mestres of Gengibirra per Noronha's manuscripts - suggesting he was a regular participant but not an organizational founder.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola had Domingos Magalhães as a member? – 23 February 1941
Regular participant at the Liberdade/Gengibirra roda on Sundays. Listed among the mestres who gathered there, presided over by civil guard Amorzinho. NOT among the 22 founding mestres - was a participant rather than organizational founder.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola had Bulgário as a member? – 23 February 1941
Regular participant at the Liberdade/Gengibirra roda on Sundays. Listed among the mestres who gathered there, presided over by civil guard Amorzinho. NOT among the 22 founding mestres - was a participant rather than organizational founder.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola had Eulâmpio as a member? – 23 February 1941
Regular participant at the Liberdade/Gengibirra roda on Sundays. Listed among the mestres who gathered there. NOT among the 22 founding mestres - was a participant rather than organizational founder.
Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola had Butique as a member? – 23 February 1941
Regular participant at the Liberdade/Gengibirra roda on Sundays. Listed among the mestres who gathered there, presided over by civil guard Amorzinho. NOT among the 22 founding mestres - was a participant rather than organizational founder.
Relations by confidence