Contra-Mestre Fernandinho

Fernando Olímpio Paes Filho, known as Fernandinho or Mano, was born on March 26, 1948, in Massaranduba, a poor neighborhood in Salvador's Cidade Baixa (Lower City), near the famous church of Bonfim. He was the youngest of three capoeirista brothers from the remarkable Moraes Paes family—nineteen children in all, fourteen boys and five girls.

His first capoeira lessons came from his older brother Nilton (born October 16, 1937), who had trained under Ninho from Ribeira, Pierrô, and Mestre Zeca do Uruguai. Through Nilton, Fernandinho inherited the Lower City lineage—the rhythm, mandinga, and neighborhood style that characterized mid-20th century Salvador. His other brother Cutica (Nelson Moraes Paes, 1941-1970), also known as Índio, was likewise a respected capoeirista who, together with Nilton, had trained and certified the young Mestre Nô in 1964.

While his brothers remained rooted in Salvador's street rodas, Fernandinho took a different path. He moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he connected with Mestre Caiçara (Antônio Conceição Moraes, 1924-1997), the legendary Angola master known for his hard fighting style, powerful voice, and iconic bengala. Caiçara had strong ties to Rio through his influence on the "Angola da Penha" movement. Under Caiçara, Fernandinho rose to the rank of contra-mestre.

According to Omilad D'Angola: "Mestre Caiçara sold fish on the small market of Jardim Cruzeiro, in the lower city neighborhood. Here he got many to become his contramestres. Such as Mestre Zé, Fernandinho, Paulo Santo Amaro, Ferreirinha (Silvestre) and others."

Fernandinho's diploma as contra-mestre was signed by Silvestre (Silvestre Vitório Ferreira, also known as Ferreirinha), who was likewise a contra-mestre under Caiçara. This connection to Silvestre—who trained under Waldemar da Liberdade, Pastinha, Bimba, and Caiçara, and later founded Grupo Vera Cruz in São Paulo—placed Fernandinho within a network of Caiçara disciples who spread capoeira across Brazil.

In Rio de Janeiro, Fernandinho connected with "the elite of capoeira" of that era. According to testimonies, he interacted with renowned masters including Camisa, Gado, Nestor, Macaco Preto, Macaco Branco, Artur Emídio, Touro, Nacional, and Medeiros—figures who were shaping the Rio capoeira scene in the 1970s and 1980s.

Fernandinho later relocated to Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, where he became a pioneering capoeira instructor, bringing the Bahian angola tradition to Brazil's center-west region. He developed a student base there, including Mestre Dentinho (according to one testimony).

On May 5, 2001, Fernandinho was tragically killed in an attack, leaving behind two children. He was 53 years old. His death cut short a career that had bridged three Brazilian regions—from Massaranduba's street rodas to Rio's competitive scene to Mato Grosso do Sul's emerging capoeira community.

Fernandinho represents the continuation of the Moraes Paes family's capoeira legacy. While his brothers Nilton and Cutica built their reputations in Salvador and trained the great Mestre Nô, Fernandinho carried the family tradition to new territories, connecting Bahia's traditional angola lineage with the expanding national capoeira movement.