Mestre Messias

Manoel Messias Pereira was born on August 6, 1927, in São Braz, a rural district of Santo Amaro da Purificação in the Recôncavo Baiano—the same region that produced Besouro Mangangá and countless other legendary capoeiristas. He was the son of Paulo Cândido de Almeida and Isidora Santana Pereira (also recorded as Isadora Pereira).

In 1942, at age 15, Messias began his capoeira training under Mestre Léo, who held weekend training sessions in São Braz. Léo himself was a student of João Catarino, who had learned directly from Besouro Mangangá—placing young Messias just three generations removed from the most legendary figure in capoeira history. The training group met on Saturdays and Sundays, consisting of local teenagers aged 15-16, including Messias, Zinho, Genesio, Lao, Tomazinho, Jaime, and Chumbinho. In that same year, José Gabriel Góes (the future Mestre Gato Preto), then 12 years old, moved to São Braz and joined the group.

Messias proved an exceptional student. In 1947, at just 20 years old, he was "formado a mestre" (graduated as a master) by Mestre Léo—a remarkable achievement for one so young. This placed him among the youngest mestres of his era.

Messias was known as a complete capoeirista of the old tradition. He had exceptional "destreza" (dexterity) and skill in the "jogo com facas e navalhas" (playing with knives and razors)—a reference to the older, more dangerous capoeira where weapons were common. As one account notes, he was "do tempo de pegar um lenço com dinheiro no chão com a boca" (from the time when capoeiristas would pick up a handkerchief with money from the ground using their mouth)—a traditional display of skill and flexibility. Still young, he learned from Mestre Léo (some sources say "Lió") to pick up a needle with his tongue after executing a meia lua de compasso.

Beyond capoeira, Messias was a multifaceted cultural practitioner. He worked as a "curandeiro" (healer) and "pescador" (fisherman), and participated in traditional cultural manifestations including Bumba Meu Boi and Samba de Roda—all interconnected expressions of Recôncavo Afro-Brazilian culture.

In 1978, ethnomusicologist Ralph Waddey recorded Messias's "reza" (prayer)—his traditional invocation or blessing that would open capoeira rituals. Waddey, an American researcher who had first come to Bahia as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1965, spent 1976-1978 documenting the music and traditions of the Recôncavo. His recordings of Messias preserve an important piece of oral tradition.

Messias remained active in the capoeira community throughout his long life. On December 21, 2013, he participated in the graduation ceremony of Mestre Sidney Santos de Jesus, alongside Mestres Felipe, Gary, and Dimas, confirming Sidney's graduation to Mestre de Capoeira. Mestre Sidney later invited Messias and other "velhos mestres" (old masters) to teach at UNILAB (Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira) as part of a program to share knowledge about traditional capoeira instruments and practices.

In 2011, Messias received the title of Grão Mestre (Grand Master) while still alive—a rare honor recognizing his lifetime of dedication to the art. He passed away on February 9, 2019, at 91 years of age, having witnessed the transformation of capoeira from a persecuted street practice to a UNESCO-recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Messias stands as a direct link in one of the most significant lineages in capoeira history: Besouro Mangangá → João Catarino → Mestre Léo → Mestre Messias. Through him, the teachings and traditions of Besouro were transmitted to new generations in the Recôncavo.