Person
Mestre João Pequeno
João Pereira dos Santos
27 December 1917 – 9 December 2011
Born in Araci, Bahia, Brazil
Died in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
12
- Life
- Lineage (training, titles granted)
- Locations
Dated moments of this life, from the corpus.2 undated moments are listed under Relations
- 191727 December 1917Born · Araci, Bahia, Brazil
- 1933Lived in Mata de São João, Bahia, Brazil · at 16
- 1933Trained in Mata de São João, Bahia, Brazil · at 16
- 1933Began training with Juvêncio · at 16 · evidence
- 1943Began training with Barbosa, Cobrinha Verde · at 26
- 1943January 1943Lived in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil · at 26
- 1945Began training with Pastinha · at 28 · evidence
- 19822 May 1982Taught in Santo Antônio Além do Carmo, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil · at 65
- 1989Title granted to Pintor · at 72 · evidence
- 1994Title granted to Barba Branca · at 77 · evidence
- 200114 October 2001Title granted to Faísca · at 84 · evidence
- 20119 December 2011Died · at 94
10
4 teachers
Barbosa
1900s – ?Mestre Cobrinha Verde
1912 – 198324 October 1912 – 1983Mestre Pastinha
1889 – 19815 April 1889 – 13 November 1981
MestreJoão Pequeno
→6 students
João Pereira dos Santos was born on December 27, 1917, in Araci, a small town in the interior of Bahia, north of Feira de Santana. His father, Maximiliano Pereira dos Santos, was a cowboy at Fazenda Vargem do Canto; his mother, Maria Clemença de Jesus, was a ceramicist of indigenous descent. Through his father, he was related to the legendary Besouro Mangangá—Besouro was his father's cousin.
He spent his early years in rural Bahia. In 1933, when he was fifteen, severe drought drove him to flee on foot to Alagoinhas, then to Mata de São João, where he worked for ten years on a sugar cane plantation as a cattle herder. It was there, at Fazenda São Pedro, that a blacksmith named Juvêncio first introduced him to capoeira.
At age 25, with his parents' permission, João moved to Salvador in January 1943. Working as a bricklayer and streetcar conductor, he found his way back to capoeira through a man named Barbosa, a dock worker who took him to the roda of Mestre Cobrinha Verde in the Chame-Chame neighborhood. One day, a man named Vicente Ferreira Pastinha came announcing he wanted to organize Salvador's capoeira, inviting everyone to the Bigode, an old soap factory. João went—and his life changed forever.
Shortly after joining Pastinha's academy, João was promoted to treinel (trainer) around 1945. Pastinha nicknamed him "Cobra Mansa" (Gentle Snake), though he became known as João Pequeno to distinguish him from the taller João Grande. Together with João Grande, he became one of Pastinha's "two most learned students"—the principal heirs to the Angola tradition.
In 1966, João Pequeno represented Brazil at the Premier Festival des Arts Nègres in Dakar, Senegal, alongside Pastinha, João Grande, Gato Preto, Roberto Satanás, Gildo Alfinete, and Camafeu de Oxossi—a landmark moment in capoeira's international recognition.
When Pastinha grew blind in his later years, João Pequeno and João Grande ran the academy. Pastinha entrusted his legacy to them, saying in 1970: "They will be the great capoeiras of the future and for this I worked and fought with them and for them. They will be true masters, not improvised teachers".
After Pastinha's death on November 13, 1981, and the closing of the original CECA at Pelourinho, João Pequeno persevered through these difficult years. On May 2, 1982, he re-founded the Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola at Forte Santo Antônio Além do Carmo—a 17th-century military fortress he transformed into a cultural center. Pastinha had told him: "Only the body dies, the spirit lives forever. João, you take care of this".
For nearly three decades, the Forte became a pilgrimage site for capoeiristas worldwide seeking to learn from the source. Into his 90s, João Pequeno continued teaching, embodying Pastinha's vision of capoeira as a path of self-knowledge and cultural preservation.
Out of 94 years of life, Mestre João Pequeno dedicated 79 of them to capoeira. He died on December 9, 2011, eighteen days before his 94th birthday, leaving behind a lineage that includes many of today's most prominent Angola mestres.
37
14
Granted titles to4
João Pequeno granted the title of Mestre to Pintor1989
Location: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Graduated as Mestre by João Pequeno in 1989 with Grupo Macaco at Escola de Educação Física in Belo Horizonte. Later also received Mestre of Capoeira Angola title.
João Pequeno granted the title of Mestre to Barba Branca1994
Formally recognized as mestre at CECA. Some sources cite 1991 or 1992; using 1994 per Velhos Mestres. Despite 15 years in capoeira, formal recognition came at CECA.
João Pequeno granted the title of Mestre to Faísca14 October 2001
Location: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
On October 14, 2001, in an event at the Academia do Forte Santo Antônio Além do Carmo, Salvador-Ba, Luís Roberto Ricardo received from Mestre João Pequeno the title of "mestre", which formally introduced him as Mestre Faísca to the capoeira community.
João Pequeno granted the title of Mestre to Madeira
Sources state Madeira "received the honors of a master by João Pequeno, Canjiquinha, and Suassuna". Exact date unknown.
Trained under3
João Pequeno trained under Juvêncio1933 – 1943
João Pequeno's first exposure to capoeira. At Fazenda São Pedro in Mata de São João, where he worked as a cattle herder for ten years (1933-1943), he met Juvêncio, a blacksmith and capoeirista, who introduced him to the art.
João Pequeno trained under Barbosa1943 – 1945
João Pequeno's capoeira learning "did not begin in an academy but with the carrier Barbosa from Largo Dois de Julho, who would take me to train and there was always a capoeira roda". Barbosa initiated João into capoeira and later took him to Cobrinha Verde's roda in Chame-Chame.
Verified[5]- [5]Destaques 38 (Estado da Bahia, 13.01.1937 transcription), Velhos Mestres(accessed 2 November 2026)
aprendizado [de João Pequeno] não iniciou em academia e sim com o carregador Barbosa, do Largo Dois de Julho
- [5]Destaques 38 (Estado da Bahia, 13.01.1937 transcription), Velhos Mestres(accessed 2 November 2026)
João Pequeno trained under Cobrinha Verde1943 – 1945
After arriving in Salvador in January 1943, João Pequeno attended Cobrinha Verde's roda in Chame-Chame neighborhood, introduced by Barbosa. This was before joining Pastinha's academy.
Student of1
João Pequeno student of Pastinha1945 – 13 November 1981
João Pequeno joined Pastinha's academy ~1943-1945, was promoted to treinel shortly after. Pastinha named him one of "the two most learned students" alongside João Grande. In 1970, Pastinha prophesied: "They will be the great capoeiras of the future". Relationship ended with Pastinha's death Nov 13, 1981.
Guided the training of3
João Pequeno guided the training of Moraes1958 – 9 December 2011
Moraes trained at Pastinha's academy where João Pequeno was one of the two principal instructors (alongside João Grande). João Pequeno and João Grande ran the academy as Pastinha was blind.
João Pequeno guided the training of Laércio1984 – 1987
GCFA group spent 3 years training with João Pequeno at Forte Santo Antônio, invited through GCAP/Cobra Mansa connection during period when Capoeira Angola was at risk of extinction.
João Pequeno guided the training of Marrom1990s – 9 December 2011
Mestre Ferradura describes Marrom as "a disciple of Mestre João Pequeno de Pastinha"; exact nature of training unclear but places Marrom in Pastinha lineage
Teacher of3
João Pequeno teacher of Barba Branca1981 – 9 December 2011
Welcomed at CECA after ~6 years without a master. Meeting João Pequeno was transformative - "opening my mind to the great philosophy of capoeira angola". Studied 13 years until recognized as mestre 1994. João Pequeno died Dec 9, 2011.
João Pequeno teacher of Faísca1991 – 9 December 2011
Primary teacher relationship. First lesson with João Pequeno in 1991 at USP. Moved to Salvador 1996 to train directly. João Pequeno guided Faísca to "keep CECA alive and the name of his academy." Relationship ended with João Pequeno's death December 9, 2011.
João Pequeno teacher of Pintor? – 1989
Primary teacher. After training with various mestres in Bahia, Pintor settled on the teaching and practice of Mestre João Pequeno de Pastinha in Salvador. João Pequeno graduated him as Mestre in 1989.
22
Associated with22
João Pequeno was associated with Tiburcinho1953 –
The Roça do Lobo roda, near the bridge linking Tororó to Garcia, was a significant gathering of Salvador's leading capoeiristas.
João Pequeno was associated with Menino Gordo1953 –
Both present at the 1953 Roça do Lobo roda that João Grande witnessed upon arriving in Salvador
João Pequeno was associated with Manoel Carregador1953 –
Both present at 1953 Roça do Lobo roda witnessed by João Grande
João Pequeno was associated with João Grande1953 –
João Pequeno had been training with Pastinha for two years when João Grande arrived. João Pequeno directed João Grande to Pastinha's academy. Together they became Pastinha's "two most learned students". In 1970, Pastinha declared: "They will be the great capoeiras of the future and for this I worked and fought with them and for them. They will be true masters, not improvised teachers". Both traveled to Dakar 1966 with Pastinha. When Pastinha grew blind, the two Joãos ran the academy together. João Grande was nicknamed to distinguish him from the shorter João Pequeno.
João Pequeno was associated with Antônio Cabeceiro1956 –
Cabeceiro and João Pequeno demonstrated capoeira together at the Festa de São Sebastião in Ilhéus, 1956, alongside João Grande. This demonstration inspired young Boa Gente to begin training.
João Pequeno was associated with Gildo Alfinete1959 – 9 December 2011
Fellow students at CECA under Mestre Pastinha. Attended João Pequeno's 90th birthday celebration at Forte da Capoeira in Salvador. Close members of Pastinha's inner circle. Relationship ended with João Pequeno's death in December 2011.
João Pequeno was associated with Curió1968 –
Curió and João Pequeno were fellow disciples of Mestre Pastinha at CECA. In 1988, they participated together in the Velha Guarda event in Florianópolis with Mestres Bobó, Nó, and Boa Gente. Mestre Pintor was also graduated by João Pequeno while training under Curió during his Bahia period.
João Pequeno was associated with Jair Moura1968 –
Jair Moura directed "Dança de Guerra" (1968). Some sources (including SecultBA official note) list João Pequeno among the masters featured, alongside Bimba and João Grande.
Likely[17][18]- [17]Jair Moura - CapoeiraWiki, CapoeiraWiki
- [18]SecultBA emite nota de pesar: Mestre Jair Moura (1936-2020), SecultBA, Revista Museu, 21 August 2020
João Pequeno was associated with Zacarias Boa Morte1984 –
Participated together in Mestre Camisa's event at Circo Voador (1984)
João Pequeno was associated with Mucungê1984 –
Mucungê participated alongside João Pequeno and Zacarias Boa Morte at Mestre Camisa's 1984 event at Circo Voador in Rio de Janeiro.
João Pequeno was associated with Bom Cabrito1987 – 22 May 2000
Served together on ABCA's first elected board (1987). João Pequeno was President and Bom Cabrito was Treasurer. They continued as ABCA colleagues until Bom Cabrito's death in 2000.
João Pequeno was associated with Môa do Katendê5 April 1987 –
João Pequeno was part of the evaluation panel (alongside João Grande, Vermelho, and Dona Romélia) that graduated Môa do Katendê as mestre on April 5, 1987.
João Pequeno was associated with Rafael Flores1988 –
In 1988, Rafael organized a historic capoeira meeting in Santa Luzia do Norte, Espírito Santo. João Pequeno participated alongside nearly all of Grupo Senzala, plus Mestres Leopoldina and João Grande.
Verified[23][24]- [23]capoeira.fandom.com: centro cultural senzala
- [24]agitaeco.com.br obituary (reference incomplete)
João Pequeno was associated with Virgílio da Fazenda Grande30 July 1988 –
João Pequeno was first ABCA president (1987); both named in 1988 Tribuna article
João Pequeno was associated with Bobô1989 –
Recorded LP "Capoeira: Afro-Brazilian Art Form" with Mestre Jelon Vieira (1989), featuring João Grande and João Pequeno. Both were listed among the eight surviving "great master-angoleiros" in the 1988 Tribuna da Bahia article.
João Pequeno was associated with Jelon1989 –
João Pequeno participated in Jelon's 1989 LP "Capoeira - Afro-Brazilian Art Form" alongside João Grande and Mestre Bobô.
João Pequeno was associated with Olavo20 August 1989 –
Historic photograph on August 20, 1989. Olavo played berimbau while João Pequeno played pandeiro.
João Pequeno was associated with Pelé da Bomba
Pelé da Bomba and João Pequeno both served on the ABCA (Associação Brasileira de Capoeira Angola) Council of Masters. They were photographed together at ABCA events. Both operated academies at the Forte de Santo Antônio Além do Carmo.
João Pequeno was associated with Ferreirinha de Santo Amaro
Ferreirinha knew João Pequeno personally. According to M Ivan's testimony at velhosmestres.com, Ferreirinha and João Pequeno were "from the same period" and knew each other. Both were founding members of ABCA in 1987.
João Pequeno was associated with Caiçara
Documented in photographs with João Pequeno, João Grande, Gato Preto, and Canjiquinha at various events. Appeared together at major capoeira events in Rio de Janeiro and Ouro Preto in 1987.
João Pequeno was associated with Valdomiro Malvadeza
Valdomiro and João Pequeno played together in the bateria at Mestre Pastinha's rodas at CECA. Per Gato Preto: "Na roda, João Pequeno, Moreno, Albertino, Valdomiro e eu fazíamos a bateria".
João Pequeno was associated with Decânio? – 1 February 2011
Decânio lived near João Pequeno in the Paripe neighborhood of Salvador (Subúrbio Ferroviário). They were close friends. When CEDANZE was formalized in 2003, Decânio served on its Council of Honor.
1
Family1
Besouro Mangangá is a cousin of João Pequeno
Besouro Mangangá was João Pequeno's father's cousin. João Pequeno himself stated: "Besouro Preto, de Santo Amaro was my father's (Maximiano Pereira dos Santos) cousin".
5
Lived in: Mata de São João, Bahia, Brazil
1933 –
Trained in: Mata de São João, Bahia, Brazil
1933 –
Lived in: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
January 1943 –
Taught in: Santo Antônio Além do Carmo, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
2 May 1982 – 2011
[33]- [33]João Pereira dos Santos, Wikipedia(accessed 18 October 2026)
Lived in: Bahia, Brazil
period not recorded
- 37
- statements
- 32
- · 86%
- with a source
- 5
- without a source
- 0
- disputed
Relations by confidence
- Verified: 32
- Likely: 5
Sources cited
- [1]taylorsbantus.wordpress.com: mestre pintor ×2cited 2 times
- [2]velhosmestres.com: destaques 60 ×2cited 2 times
- [3]ceca-riovermelho.org.br: mestre faisca ×2cited 2 times
- [4]siridemangue.com: grupo siri de mangue ×1cited 1 time
- [5]Destaques 38 (Estado da Bahia, 13.01.1937 transcription), Velhos Mestres ×4cited 4 times
- [6]capoeira.online: mestre moraes ×1cited 1 time
- [7]lalaue.com: mestre moraes ×1cited 1 time
- [8]filhosdeangola.eu: biografie ×1cited 1 time
- [9]oberlincapoeiraangola.wordpress.com: meet the hosts ×1cited 1 time
- [10]capoeira.fandom.com: mestre barba branca ×1cited 1 time
- [11]NEA ×1cited 1 time
- [12]Smithsonian ×1cited 1 time
- [13]nossa-tribo.com: mestre boa gente ×1cited 1 time
- [14]velhosmestres.com: destaques 71 ×1cited 1 time
- [15]cecab.org.br: mestre gildo alfinete ×1cited 1 time
- [16]velhosmestres.com: destaques 25 ×1cited 1 time
- [17]Jair Moura - CapoeiraWiki, CapoeiraWiki ×1cited 1 time
- [18]SecultBA emite nota de pesar: Mestre Jair Moura (1936-2020), SecultBA, Revista Museu ×1cited 1 time
- [19]velhosmestres.com: featured 44 ×1cited 1 time
- [20]velhosmestres.com: destaques 51 ×1cited 1 time
- [21]mapadacapoeira.com.br: descricaopontos ×1cited 1 time
- [22]dicionariompb.com.br: moa do katende ×1cited 1 time
- [23]capoeira.fandom.com: centro cultural senzala ×1cited 1 time
- [24]agitaeco.com.br obituary ×1cited 1 time
- [25]Caderno de Cultura, Tribuna da Bahia ×1cited 1 time
- [26]velhosmestres.com: featured 22 ×2cited 2 times
- [27]velhosmestres.com: featured 6 ×1cited 1 time
- [28]velhosmestres.com: waldemar 1989 ×1cited 1 time
- [29]velhosmestres.com: featured 42 ×1cited 1 time
- [30]velhosmestres.com: destaques 27 ×1cited 1 time
- [31]capoeira-connection.com: interview with mestre gato preto ×1cited 1 time
- [32]CEDANZE website ×1cited 1 time
- [33]João Pereira dos Santos, Wikipedia ×3cited 3 times
- [34]Mestre João Pequeno - CECA Rio Vermelho, CECA Rio Vermelho ×2cited 2 times