Mestre Lobão

Everaldo Bispo de Souza was born on June 7, 1952, in the city of Itabuna in southern Bahia—a region that would produce some of the most influential capoeiristas of the modern era, including Mestre Suassuna and Mestre Medicina. As a child, he was nicknamed "Pelé" after the famous soccer player.

In the 1960s, young Everaldo began his capoeira journey in his hometown, training with Antônio Rodrigues at the Academia de Capoeira Nossa Senhora de Fátima—the first enclosed capoeira academy in Itabuna—and with Luiz Medicina, who would later become one of Suassuna's most accomplished students. This formative period in Itabuna exposed him to the Regional tradition that connected back to Mestre Bimba through the local academies and street rodas.

Seeking greater opportunities, Lobão made his way to São Paulo on the recommendation of Mestre Medicina. There he joined Cordão de Ouro and trained under Mestre Suassuna himself—the co-founder of the group and creator of the Miudinho game. Lobão graduated from Cordão de Ouro in 1970, becoming part of the first generation of mestres that Suassuna produced.

In 1971, Lobão arrived in São José dos Campos after receiving an invitation from Esdras Magalhães Filho. There he met Lieutenant Esdras Magalhães dos Santos (Mestre Damião)—a formado of Mestre Bimba who had organized Bimba's historic first trip to São Paulo in 1949 and was very probably the first person to formally teach Capoeira Regional in a São Paulo academy.

On May 16, 1971, the three men—Mestre Damião, his son Esdras Filho (Mestre Esdras), and Mestre Lobão—together founded the Associação Desportiva e Cultural Capoeira Besouro Mangangá, the first capoeira academy in Vale do Paraíba. The name "Besouro Mangangá" was chosen by Mestre Esdras after consulting both his father and Mestre Suassuna, honoring the legendary capoeirista from Santo Amaro who was also known as "Besouro Cordão de Ouro."

The academy began in São José dos Campos, with Esdras Filho and Lobão teaching classes while Mestre Damião used his connections to help the organization grow. The academy later moved to the Calçadão da Rua 7, and today its headquarters stands in the Jardim São Dimas neighborhood.

Lobão invested in his professional development, earning a degree in Physical Education and a postgraduate degree in Sports Training. This formal education complemented his traditional capoeira knowledge and allowed him to systematize his teaching methods. He served as Technical Coach for the Capoeira Delegation of São José dos Campos, achieving significant results with athletes in the Jogos Regionais (Regional Games) and Jogos Abertos do Interior (Open Games).

His reach extended beyond the academy. He taught capoeira in public schools, private institutions, and at UNIVAP (Universidade do Vale do Paraíba), integrating capoeira into the Physical Education curriculum. His approach to education emphasized both the physical and cultural dimensions of the art.

Lobão's influence also reached cinema. He appeared in three Brazilian films, including the 1976 production "Kung Fu Contra as Bonecas" (known internationally as "Bruce Lee vs. Gay Power")—an exploitation film that featured capoeira alongside martial arts choreography. As he later reflected: "Everything I have and did was because of capoeira; I studied physical education, acted in cinema (in 3 films), always thinking about the growth of capoeira."

His teaching produced a generation of practitioners who would spread capoeira throughout Brazil and internationally. Among his notable students was Zé Baiano (José Joaquim Andrade Filho), who began training in Capoeira Regional under Lobão in 1973 before eventually transitioning to Capoeira Angola under Mestre Gato Preto and founding the Escola de Capoeira Angola Rei Zumbi.

Lobão traveled extensively, bringing capoeira to the United States, Canada, France, Austria, New Zealand, Belgium, England, and Sweden at the invitation of other mestres. The Besouro Mangangá organization expanded to include branches in São Luiz do Paraitinga and Caçapava within Brazil, and internationally in Portugal, Sweden, and Japan.

Recognition came from multiple sources. In 2010, he received the Prêmio Viva Meu Mestre from IPHAN (Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional)—an award recognizing capoeira mestres aged 55 or older whose lives have fundamentally contributed to the transmission and continuity of capoeira in Brazil. In 2014, the Fundação Cultural Cassiano Ricardo awarded him the title of "Mestre Cultura Viva." He actively participates in the Salvaguarda da Capoeira group with IPHAN in São Paulo.

The Associação Besouro Mangangá itself gained recognition as both a Ponto de Cultura and a Ponto de Memória (Memory Point), reflecting its status as a living cultural institution with archives spanning more than fifty years.

On August 15, 2025, the Câmara Municipal de São José dos Campos awarded Lobão the title of "Cidadão Joseense" (Citizen of São José dos Campos) through Legislative Decree 4/25, proposed by councilwoman Juliana Fraga (PT). The honor recognized more than 50 years dedicated to teaching capoeira and preserving this Afro-Brazilian cultural expression that combines fight and art.

In 2023, historian Dr. Zuleika Stefania Sabino Roque published "Jubileu de Ouro Associação Desportiva e Cultural Besouro Mangangá Capoeira: Mestre Lobão"—a book tracing capoeira's journey from Bahia to São José dos Campos and honoring Lobão's five decades of work alongside the late Mestre Damião.

Today, Mestre Lobão continues leading Besouro Mangangá from São José dos Campos. The organization maintains an active teaching staff of three masters and more than 30 foremen, teachers, and graduates, all with more than fifteen years of experience. Mestre Lobão has become, in the words of official recognition, "a reference for national and international capoeira."