Cara Queimada

Henrique Cara Queimada ("Henrique Burnt Face") was one of the 22 founding mestres of the Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola, the historic gathering at Ladeira de Pedra in the Gengibirra area of Salvador's Liberdade neighborhood. This center, established in the 1920s during the era when capoeira was still criminalized in Brazil, served as the primary meeting place for traditional capoeira angola practitioners.

The origin of his apelido "Cara Queimada" has not been documented.

Mestre Noronha, who documented the history of Gengibirra in his manuscripts (later published as "O ABC da Capoeira Angola" in 1993), listed Henrique Cara Queimada among the founding mestres. While four mestres were recognized as "donos e proprietários" (owners and proprietors) - Noronha, Livino, Totonho de Maré, and Amorzinho - the other 18 founding mestres, including Henrique Cara Queimada, were equally important contributors to the establishment and operation of this historic center.

Henrique Cara Queimada was present during the center's operation throughout the 1920s and 1930s, practicing capoeira during the dangerous era of police persecution under police chief "Pedrito" (1920-1927). The center was protected by Amorzinho, a civil guard whose position provided crucial protection from police raids.

On February 23, 1941, Henrique Cara Queimada would have been among the mestres present when Mestre Aberrê introduced Mestre Pastinha to the roda at Gengibirra, leading to Pastinha's assumption of leadership and the eventual transformation into CECA.

No further biographical details about Henrique Cara Queimada have been documented.