Mestre Jurandir Nascimento

Jurandir Nascimento, sometimes referred to as Francesco Jurandir Nascimento, has dedicated his life to the cause and promotion of Capoeira Angola since 1970. Born in Rio de Janeiro, in the area of Duque de Caxias, he became part of the legendary Roda de Caxias—one of the oldest street rodas in Rio de Janeiro, founded in 1973 and still active today. The Roda de Caxias became a crucible for many great capoeiristas, including Mestre Cobra Mansa, Mestre Russo, and Mestre Peixe.

Jurandir was one of the pioneers of the Grupo de Capoeira Angola Pelourinho (GCAP), joining the movement that sought to preserve and revitalize Capoeira Angola during a period when the art form was in severe decline. He trained under Mestre Moraes and became part of the core group that helped establish GCAP as the leading organization in the Capoeira Angola revival of the 1980s.

In 1990, Jurandir founded the N'GOLO Angola group in Minas Gerais, establishing himself as a constant presence in the cultural arts scene of Belo Horizonte. Throughout his career there, he organized numerous events promoting Capoeira Angola as an important aspect of Afro-Brazilian culture and history. In 1996, his group began working with the Nucleus of Pedagogic Support (N.A.P.) through the municipality of Belo Horizonte's Miguilim Project to support and educate abandoned children. The following year, the group became a co-participant in the "Children in the Park" project for underprivileged children of the impoverished community surrounding Mangabeira Park.

In 1995 or 1996, together with Mestre Cobra Mansa and Mestre Valmir Damasceno, Jurandir co-founded the Fundação Internacional de Capoeira Angola (FICA), also known as ICAF (International Capoeira Angola Foundation). The organization was established with the mission to preserve, promote, and research Capoeira Angola. Mestre Jurandir serves as president of ICAF and has been instrumental in expanding the organization internationally.

In 1997, invited by students from Brazil, Jurandir founded ICAF Seattle, where he held initial classes at Miller Community Center on Capitol Hill and conducted workshops throughout greater Seattle schools. He led FICA Seattle until 2005, also founding the TESC Capoeira Angola Club at Evergreen State College in Olympia in 1998. His student Mestre Silvinho succeeded him in leading ICAF Seattle.

Jurandir has conducted numerous workshops at college campuses throughout the United States as part of ICAF's international cultural exchange program, including at George Washington University and Howard University. He has been instrumental in the formation of ICAF affiliate groups in Austin, Texas; Oakland, California; Seattle, Washington; and Maputo, Mozambique. His work in Mozambique has spanned over seven years, bringing Capoeira Angola to Africa.

One of Mestre Jurandir's principal preoccupations has long been the promotion and teaching of Capoeira Angola to children. From high school gyms to kindergarten classes and even juvenile prisons, he has dedicated his time to teaching children capoeira movement, music, and philosophy in the USA, Brazil, and internationally. Through the art form, he seeks to instill in children not only the mental and physical discipline to perform the complex movements of the game, but also an understanding of the music accompanying the art form and the cultural and historical significance of its lyrics.

Today, Mestre Jurandir travels back and forth between the United States and Brazil to supervise the foundation's projects and efforts, continuing his decades-long mission to preserve and spread Capoeira Angola worldwide.