Mestre Kiki da Bahia

Mestre Kiki da Bahia is a native of Salvador, Bahia—the soul of Brazil and the birthplace of capoeira. His apelido reflects this origin, marking him as a son of that legendary city.

Kiki's capoeira journey began at the age of eight, when his father Mestre Nenei and his uncle began teaching him the fundamentals of Capoeira Regional. This early family training provided the foundation for what would become a life dedicated to the art. Mestre Nenei himself had trained under Mestre Salário Mínimo, a direct student of Mestre Bimba, the creator of Capoeira Regional—making Kiki the third generation in this prestigious lineage.

As a teenager, Kiki began formal training with Mestre Itapoan, one of the most important figures in Capoeira Regional and among the foremost authorities on Mestre Bimba's legacy. Itapoan, who trained under Bimba from 1964 to 1972 and co-founded Ginga Associação de Capoeira in 1972, became Kiki's primary mentor. Under Itapoan's tutelage, Kiki absorbed not only the technical aspects of Regional but also its philosophy, history, and cultural significance.

In 1996, Mestre Kiki da Bahia brought Ginga Associação de Capoeira to the United States, establishing Ginga Associação de Capoeira USA. Since his arrival, he has become the chief representative of Capoeira Regional in the United States, carrying forward the teachings of his master and, through him, the legacy of Mestre Bimba himself.

Beyond teaching capoeira, Mestre Kiki da Bahia is accomplished as a singer and master percussionist, representing Brazil's rich musical heritage through performances worldwide. He has appeared with Gilberto Gil (former Brazilian Minister of Culture), Grupo Ginga Capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian band Ogans, and Banda Olhos D'água. His musical work blends various Brazilian rhythms including bossa nova, samba, and traditional songs, creating what observers describe as a carnival atmosphere.

Ginga Associação de Capoeira USA offers classes across multiple locations including New York City, Long Beach and Woodmere on Long Island, and Danbury, Connecticut. The organization maintains a personalized and holistic approach to training, providing students with an authentic understanding of capoeira not only as a martial art but as a complex and transformative Afro-Brazilian culture.

The lineage Kiki carries is historically significant: Mestre Bimba created Capoeira Regional, trained Mestre Salário Mínimo, who trained Mestre Nenei, who raised his son Kiki da Bahia in the art. Kiki then trained formally under Mestre Itapoan (also a direct Bimba student), who passed down the responsibility of representing Regional in the United States. This dual lineage connection—through both his father and his formal teacher—makes Kiki a particularly important figure in the transmission of Bimba's Capoeira Regional to North America.