Person
Mestre Cobrinha Verde
Rafael Alves França
24 October 1912 – 1983
Born in Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil
Died in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
8
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- Life
- Lineage (training, titles granted)
- Locations
- approximate
- decade or uncertain
Dated moments of this life, from the corpus.3 undated moments are listed under Relations
- 191224 October 1912Born · Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil
- 1910sBegan training with Espinho Remoso, Tonha Rolo do Mar
- c. 1916Baptism by Besouro Mangangá · at 4 · evidence
- 1916Began training with Besouro Mangangá · at 4 · evidence
- c. 1924Began training with Siri de Mangue, Gasolina, Maitá, Dendê, Juvêncio Grosso · at 12
- 1929Active in Lençóis, Bahia, Brazil · at 17
- 1935Taught in Engenho Velho da Federação, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil · at 23
- 1983Died · at 71
21
9 teachers
Tonha Rolo do Mar
1870s – 1950sMestre Espinho Remoso
c. 1910 – 1960Siri de Mangue
1880s – ?Gasolina
1880s – c. 1925Maitá
1880s – ?Dendê
1890s – ?Juvêncio Grosso
1880s – ?Neco Canário Pardo
1880s – ?
MestreCobrinha Verde
→12 students
Mestre Bimba
1899 – 197423 November 1899 – 5 February 1974Mestre Gigante
1920 – 20164 October 1920 – 30 May 2016Mestre João Pequeno
1917 – 201127 December 1917 – 9 December 2011Mestre Gato Preto
1930 – 200219 March 1930 – 6 August 2002Mestre João Grande
1933 –Mestre Bom Cabrito
1944 – 200013 March 1944 – 22 May 2000Sete
1920s –Moreno
1920s –Júlio França
1940s –Mestre Wilson Sereno
1930s –Eulâmpio
1900s – ?Mestre Roque
1938 –
Rafael Alves França was born on October 24, 1912, in Santo Amaro da Purificação—a town in the Recôncavo Baiano that he called "the birthplace of Bahian capoeira". His parents were João Alves França and Maria Narcisa Bispo.
His connection to capoeira began through blood: his aunt Maria Haifa was the mother of Besouro Mangangá. Besouro was raised by Cobrinha's mother, making them effectively brothers as well as cousins. At four years old, in 1916, Rafael began learning capoeira from Besouro. His cousin gave him the nickname "Cobrinha Verde" (little green snake) because of his exceptional speed and agility. According to Cobrinha: "It was Besouro himself, my mestre, who gave me my nickname because I was very quick".
Beyond Besouro, he learned from many other mestres in Santo Amaro: Maitá, Licurí, Joité, Dendê, Gasolina, Siri de Mangue, Doze Homens, Esperidião, Juvêncio Grosso, Espinho Remoso, and Neco Canário Pardo. Neco taught him the machete, while a woman named Tonha Rolo do Mar taught him the razor technique.
His mystical education came from an African named Tio Pascoal, a neighbor of his grandmother. From Pascoal he learned the mandingas of the patuá, prayers, and corpo fechado (closed body protection). Cobrinha claimed to possess a patuá with magical powers: "It was alive and would jump when left on a virgin plate".
At seventeen, in 1929, Cobrinha joined the band of Colonel Horácio de Matos in the Lençóis region of the Bahian sertão. He earned 10 mil-réis per day to fight with police. He spent three years and six months with the band. One midnight, he dreamed his father's spirit asked him to leave; he woke and fled while everyone slept.
He traveled to Manaus, living with an indigenous woman and having two children. Around age 22, he joined the 1930 Revolution under Getúlio Vargas, achieving the rank of 3rd Sergeant. Of his battalion of 85 men, only he survived.
After leaving the army, in 1935 he began teaching capoeira at Fazenda Garcia—and here is a remarkable detail: he gave instruction to Mestre Bimba and helped him teach his students at Bogum, Engenho Velho da Federação. This places Cobrinha as an influence on Regional capoeira's development, not just Angola.
He also collaborated with Mestre Pastinha's academy, instructing students in singing, berimbau playing, and capoeira movements. Pastinha's official membership book lists him as member number 28, admitted August 12, 1955. His roda became one of the most respected in Salvador, alongside those of Mestre Bimba, Mestre Pastinha, and Mestre Waldemar. For many years he taught at his Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola Dois de Julho.
Cobrinha Verde was one of the only capoeiristas who knew the "Santa Maria" game—a dangerous technique of fighting with a razor blade wedged between the toes. He also introduced to Capoeira Angola the practice of touching the floor repeatedly during play, as if releasing mandinga. This gesture became emblematic of Angola capoeira and was spread by Mestre João Grande.
In 1962, he recorded an LP "Capoeira da Bahia" with Mestre Traíra and Mestre Gato Preto, now considered a masterpiece and one of the earliest musical documents of capoeira.
Cobrinha Verde never charged money to teach capoeira—he worked as a pedreiro (stonemason). This fulfilled a deathbed promise to Besouro: "On his deathbed, Besouro told me that I was the only one to whom he was giving his spirit to teach capoeira".
By 1982, he was the last surviving "old master" in Bahia. He died in 1983, leaving a legacy that bridges the legendary era of Besouro to the documented lineage that continues today.
39
22
Baptized by1
Cobrinha Verde had the baptism led by Besouro Mangangác. 1916
Besouro named him "Cobrinha Verde" (little green snake) because of his exceptional speed and agility with his legs.
Student of1
Cobrinha Verde student of Besouro Mangangá1916 – 8 July 1924
Began learning capoeira from Besouro at age 4 in 1916. Besouro was his cousin (aunt Maria Haifa was Besouro's mother) and raised as his brother. On his deathbed, Besouro passed his "spirit to teach capoeira" to Cobrinha Verde.
Trained under8
Cobrinha Verde trained under Espinho Remoso1910s – 1960
Cobrinha Verde learned from Espinho Remoso as part of his training with multiple Santo Amaro mestres. Espinho Remoso listed among: Maitá, Licurí, Joité, Dendê, Gasolina, Siri de Mangue, Doze Homens, Esperidião, Juvêncio Grosso, Neco Canário Pardo.
Verified[2]- [2]Cobrinha Verde testimony in "Capoeira e Mandingas" (1991) (reference incomplete), 1991
Cobrinha Verde trained under Tonha Rolo do Mar1910s – 1950s
Tonha Rolo do Mar taught Cobrinha Verde the specialized razor (navalha) technique in Santo Amaro. She was distinct from his other teachers—a woman who mastered the military technique of playing with knife and razor tied to a cord. This represents one of the earliest documented instances of a woman teaching a male capoeira mestre.
Cobrinha Verde trained under Siri de Manguec. 1924 – 1983
Cobrinha Verde learned from multiple Santo Amaro mestres after Besouro's death in 1924. Siri de Mangue was among them alongside Maitá, Licurí, Joité, Dendê, and others.
Cobrinha Verde trained under Gasolinac. 1924 – c. 1925
Cobrinha Verde learned from Gasolina as part of his training with multiple Santo Amaro mestres after Besouro's death in 1924. Training ended with Gasolina's death during Pedrito persecution.
Cobrinha Verde trained under Maitác. 1924 – 1983
Cobrinha Verde learned from Maitá after Besouro's death in 1924. Maitá was listed first among Cobrinha Verde's Santo Amaro teachers and notably had a samba song named after him, indicating his prominence in the community.
Cobrinha Verde trained under Dendêc. 1924 – 1983
Cobrinha Verde learned from Dendê as one of multiple Santo Amaro mestres after Besouro's death in 1924. Listed fourth in Cobrinha Verde's testimony: "Maitá, Licurí, Joité, Dendê, Gasolina, Siri de Mangue, Doze Homens, Esperidião, Juvêncio Grosso, Espinho Remoso, Neco Canário Pardo."
Verified[2]- [2]Cobrinha Verde testimony in "Capoeira e Mandingas" (1991) (reference incomplete), 1991
Cobrinha Verde trained under Juvêncio Grossoc. 1924 – 1983
Cobrinha Verde learned from Juvêncio Grosso as one of multiple Santo Amaro mestres after Besouro's death in 1924. Listed in Cobrinha Verde's testimony: "Maitá, Licurí, Joité, Dendê, Gasolina, Siri de Mangue, Doze Homens, Esperidião, Juvêncio Grosso, Espinho Remoso, Neco Canário Pardo."
Verified[2]- [2]Cobrinha Verde testimony in "Capoeira e Mandingas" (1991) (reference incomplete), 1991
Cobrinha Verde trained under Neco Canário Pardo
Verified[2]- [2]Cobrinha Verde testimony in "Capoeira e Mandingas" (1991) (reference incomplete), 1991
Guided the training of6
Cobrinha Verde guided the training of Bimba1935 – 5 February 1974
Cobrinha Verde stated: "I would leave Fazenda Garcia to give instruction to Bimba and help him give instructions to his students, at Bogum, Engenho Velho da Federação".
Verified[2]- [2]Cobrinha Verde testimony in "Capoeira e Mandingas" (1991) (reference incomplete), 1991
Cobrinha Verde guided the training of João Pequeno1943 – 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.
Cobrinha Verde guided the training of João Grande1953 – 1983
When João Grande arrived in Salvador in 1953, he witnessed his first roda where Cobrinha Verde was present as "one of the most skillful players of that era". Cobrinha Verde was responsible for introducing the act of touching the floor many times as if making sorcery or asking for protection—this floor-touching mandinga movement was later spread by João Grande, who had learned it from Cobrinha Verde. Cobrinha Verde also "shared the work with Mestre Pastinha, where he passed on his knowledge to his students, which included the future masters, João Grande and João Pequeno".
Cobrinha Verde guided the training of Sete
Sete learned capoeira from Rafael (Cobrinha Verde). Cobrinha Verde was born 1912 and began teaching in 1935.
Cobrinha Verde guided the training of Roque
Roque claims to have learned a great deal from Cobrinha Verde in Salvador. His lineage descends from Tio Alípio through Besouro, continuing with Cobrinha Verde.
Cobrinha Verde guided the training of Wilson Sereno
Wilson Sereno "studied with Mestre Cobrinha Verde" (Rafael Alves França, 1912-1983) according to CapoeiraHub. Cobrinha Verde was the legendary mestre who was cousin and student of Besouro Mangangá, and who introduced the floor-touching mandinga gesture to Capoeira Angola. This training would have occurred in Salvador, probably in the 1950s-1960s. Designated as trained_under rather than student_of since Caiçara is specified as the primary teacher.
Teacher of6
Cobrinha Verde teacher of Gigante1930s – 1983
Started learning capoeira in a backyard at Jardim Suspenso da Barra with Mestre Cobrinha Verde. This was his primary/initial teacher.
Cobrinha Verde teacher of Gato Preto1947 – 1983
At seventeen (1947), Gato Preto moved to Salvador and became a disciple of Mestre Cobrinha Verde, also from Santo Amaro. This was his primary mentor relationship. Later served as contra-mestre de bateria at Cobrinha Verde's academy (1952-1954). Relationship continued until Cobrinha Verde's death in 1983.
Cobrinha Verde teacher of Bom Cabrito1950s – 1983
Primary teacher. Bom Cabrito began training with Cobrinha Verde in the 1950s in Salvador. Cobrinha Verde was one of the legendary Angola mestres who trained under Besouro Mangangá.
Cobrinha Verde teacher of Moreno
Listed as student of Cobrinha Verde alongside João Grande, João Pequeno, Gigante, and Eulampio. Exact dates of training unknown. Note: "Moreno" was an extremely common nickname - this may or may not be the same "Moreno" mentioned in other Salvador capoeira sources.
Cobrinha Verde teacher of Júlio França? – 12 May 1983
Júlio was Cobrinha Verde's son and described as his "discípulo e grande capoeirista" (disciple and great capoeirista) in 1982. This was a primary teacher-student relationship, not just family instruction.
Cobrinha Verde teacher of Eulâmpio
Listed as student of Cobrinha Verde alongside João Grande, João Pequeno, Moreno, and Gigante in Portuguese Wikipedia and capoeira.online sources. Called "brother" by Cobrinha Verde in his autobiography, suggesting extremely close relationship. Training dates unknown.
1
Member of1
Cobrinha Verde was a member of Roda de Trapiche de Baixoc. 1916 – 8 July 1924
Began training with his cousin Besouro Mangangá at Trapiche de Baixo around age 4 (1912-1916). Cobrinha Verde was the youngest member of the community, trained until Besouro's death in 1924.
13
Influenced by1
Cobrinha Verde was influenced by Tio Pascoal1920s –
Pascoal taught Cobrinha Verde spiritual practices (mandinga): 65 prayers, patuá creation, corpo fechado. He was not a capoeira teacher but a mandingueiro who transmitted African-Brazilian mystical traditions. Cobrinha said: "The person who gave me this amulet was an African who, to this day, when I speak of him, my eyes fill with tears. He was called Uncle Pascoal".
Verified[1][2]- [2]Cobrinha Verde testimony in "Capoeira e Mandingas" (1991) (reference incomplete), 1991
- [1]Cobrinha Verde, Velhos Mestres
Associated with11
Cobrinha Verde was associated with Barbosa1943 –
Barbosa brought João Pequeno to train at Cobrinha Verde's roda in the Chame-Chame neighborhood of Salvador around 1943. This indicates a collegial relationship where Barbosa directed interested practitioners to established teachers.
Cobrinha Verde was associated with Waldemar1940s –
Contemporary mestres who influenced each other. The 1962 LP "Capoeira da Bahia" was recorded at Waldemar's residence. Both were important Angola mestres in Salvador.
Cobrinha Verde was associated with Menino Gordo1953 –
Both present at the 1953 Roça do Lobo roda that João Grande witnessed
Cobrinha Verde was associated with Manoel Carregador1953 –
Both present at 1953 Roça do Lobo roda witnessed by João Grande
Cobrinha Verde was associated with Tiburcinho1953 –
Cobrinha Verde was described as one of the greatest players of that era at the Roça do Lobo gathering.
Cobrinha Verde was associated with Zacarias Boa Morte1955 –
Part of Waldemar's bateria alongside Traíra, Rafael, Cobrinha Verde, and Bugalho at Corta Braço roda (1955)
Cobrinha Verde was associated with Pastinha12 August 1955 –
Cobrinha Verde was member #28 at CECA, sharing teaching responsibilities with Pastinha. Taught João Grande and João Pequeno specific techniques including floor-touching mandinga.
Verified[14][15]- [14]velhosmestres.com: cobrinha 1912 1
- [15]Pastinha's official membership book (reference incomplete)
Cobrinha Verde was associated with Traíra1962 –
Recorded LP "Capoeira da Bahia" together with Cobrinha Verde and Gato Preto (1962). Both appear in LP booklet photos at Market Ramp roda. Both were prominent angoleiros in Salvador's mid-century capoeira scene.
Cobrinha Verde was associated with Nô1963 –
Mestre Cobrinha Verde was one of the renowned mestres present at Nô's consecration at the Ribeira festa around 1963, where Nô demonstrated his worth.
Cobrinha Verde was associated with Curió4 June 1980 –
Curió participated alongside Cobrinha Verde in Frede Abreu's First Regional Capoeira Seminar (June 4-8, 1980) in Barris, Salvador. This event helped "rediscover" Cobrinha Verde and reunited the old guard of Capoeira Angola.
Cobrinha Verde was associated with Eulâmpio
Cobrinha Verde stated "Eu e Eulâmpio - aquele que eu chamava de irmão" (Eulampio - who I called my brother) in his autobiography, describing their attendance at a naval base presentation in São Tomé de Paripe with Mestre Pastinha. The "brother" designation indicates an extraordinarily close bond.
Influenced1
Cobrinha Verde influenced Mau1974 – 12 May 1983
Cobrinha Verde attended Mau's academy on Sundays and "felt at home" there. Mau documented Cobrinha Verde's life in his 1991 book. Relationship ended with Cobrinha Verde's death in 1983.
Verified[2][20]- [2]Cobrinha Verde testimony in "Capoeira e Mandingas" (1991) (reference incomplete), 1991
- [20]velhosmestres.com: cobrinha 1982 3
3
Family3
Zeca do Uruguai is a cousin of Cobrinha Verde
Cousin (primo) - both from Santo Amaro da Purificação
Júlio França is a child of Cobrinha Verde
Júlio was the biological son of Cobrinha Verde (Rafael Alves França). In 1982, Cobrinha Verde was living at Júlio's home due to health issues.
Besouro Mangangá is a cousin of Cobrinha Verde
Cobrinha Verde's aunt Maria Haifa was Besouro's mother. Besouro was raised by Cobrinha's mother Maria Narcisa Bispo, making them effectively brothers as well as cousins.
Verified[1]- [1]Cobrinha Verde, Velhos Mestres(accessed 2 November 2026)
1916 - Started to learn capoeira with famous Besouro (Manoel Henrique Pereira, 1895-1924), his first cousin
- [1]Cobrinha Verde, Velhos Mestres(accessed 2 November 2026)
4
Active in: Lençóis, Bahia, Brazil
1929 –
Taught in: Engenho Velho da Federação, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
1935 –
Active in: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
period not recorded
Trained in: Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil
period not recorded
- 39
- statements
- 31
- · 79%
- with a source
- 8
- without a source
- 0
- disputed
Relations by confidence
- Verified: 33
- Likely: 6
Sources cited
- [1]Cobrinha Verde, Velhos Mestres ×5cited 5 times
- [2]Cobrinha Verde testimony in "Capoeira e Mandingas" (1991) ×7cited 7 times
- [3]aldeiacapoeira.com Mestre Gegê biography ×1cited 1 time
- [4]Mestre Roque (1938), Capoeira History ×1cited 1 time
- [5]capoeirahub.net: 693dbe24de8a6d001517e9fe mestre wilson sereno ×1cited 1 time
- [6]Mestre Gigante (Francisco de Assis) - Velhos Mestres, velhosmestres.com ×1cited 1 time
- [7]Velhos Mestres – featured 57 (Bom Cabrito), velhosmestres.com ×1cited 1 time
- [8]capoeira.online: cobrinha verde ×3cited 3 times
- [9]pt.wikipedia.org: mestre cobrinha verde ×2cited 2 times
- [10]velhosmestres.com: cobrinha 1982 5 ×2cited 2 times
- [11]1962 LP "Capoeira da Bahia" recorded at Waldemar's residence ×1cited 1 time
- [12]Destaques 38 (Estado da Bahia, 13.01.1937 transcription), Velhos Mestres ×3cited 3 times
- [13]grupoliberdadecapoeira.com.br: linhagem mestres ×1cited 1 time
- [14]velhosmestres.com: cobrinha 1912 1 ×1cited 1 time
- [15]Pastinha's official membership book ×1cited 1 time
- [16]velhosmestres.com: cobrinha 1962 ×1cited 1 time
- [17]capoeirapalmares.co.uk: mestre no ×1cited 1 time
- [18]velhosmestres.com: featured 72 ×1cited 1 time
- [19]I Regional Capoeira Seminar / Festival of Capoeira Rhythms, 4-8 June 1980, Barris, Salvador, Velhos Mestres ×1cited 1 time
- [20]velhosmestres.com: cobrinha 1982 3 ×1cited 1 time
- [21]Velhos Mestres - Featured 39 ×1cited 1 time