Noca de Jacó

Noca de Jacó, whose full name was Ernesto Ferreira da Silva, was a capoeirista from Santo Amaro da Purificação who trained alongside the legendary Besouro Mangangá in the early 20th century. His apelido likely references a connection to someone named Jacó - perhaps his father or mentor ("Noca of Jacó").

According to Professor Leiteiro, Noca de Jacó was among the companions of Besouro alongside Paulo Barroquinha, Boca de Siri, Doze Homens, and Canário Pardo. All were residents of Trapiche de Baixo - described as "the poorest neighborhood of Santo Amaro" - and "were his companions in the memorable capoeira rodas that hypnotized anybody who would go by".

These Sunday gatherings in Trapiche de Baixo and at folk parties were where the young Besouro first made a name for himself, distinguished by "agility, the quickness of thought, the calmness and the surprise, besides having a body closed by strong sorcery and prayers".

Noca de Jacó is documented in academic scholarship - his name appears in "Mestres e capoeiras famosos da Bahia" (Famous Masters and Capoeiristas of Bahia), a scholarly work available on JSTOR, with a chapter titled "Noca de Jacó: Mulher de amigo meu..." (Noca de Jacó: My friend's woman...). The chapter title suggests he may have been involved in a notable incident or story involving another man's wife.

Beyond these references, little else is recorded about Noca de Jacó. Like many of his contemporaries in the Trapiche de Baixo circle, he exists in history primarily as a name in the oral tradition, one of the practitioners who shaped the legendary era of Bahian capoeira in Santo Amaro alongside Besouro Mangangá.