Mestre Poeira

Jorge Francisco Ferreira, known as Mestre Poeira, is one of the mestres formed by Mestre Roque who helped extend the Filhos de Angola lineage into the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro and, through his students, across the globe.

Poeira began training with Mestre Roque in 1978, during the later phase of Roque's teaching career after he had moved from Pavão/Pavãozinho to various locations across Rio's Zona Norte and Baixada Fluminense. Poeira established himself in Padre Miguel, a working-class suburb in the western zone of Rio de Janeiro, where he founded Grupo Pantera.

The name "Grupo Pantera" was a tribute to the Black Panther Party, which had a strong influence on resistance movements during Brazil's military dictatorship (1964-1985). Poeira bestowed the nickname "Pantera" on one of his students who would go on to found the Associação de Capoeira Descendente do Pantera (ACDP) in 1973. This Mestre Pantera later moved to Madrid in 1991, becoming one of the first capoeira teachers in Spain.

Poeira's influence extended far beyond Rio de Janeiro. His student Mestre Cabeça established Grupo Capoeira Brasil with branches in Boston, Albany, New York, France, Mozambique, and French Guiana. Through Cabeça came Mestre Torpedo, who became a pioneer in Asia—the first capoeira mestre to live and teach long-term in Thailand and the Philippines. Torpedo's student Mestre Lobo became the first Filipino to receive the mestre title in capoeira history (2023).

Another notable student was Mestre Célio Gomes, who began training with Poeira around 1980. Célio would later continue his development with Mestre Manoel (GCAP) and Mestres Jurandir and Cobra Mansa (FICA), eventually founding Grupo Aluandê in 2007 and organizing the famous Lavradio Roda in Rio's Lapa district.

Poeira maintains his Centro Cultural "Itineranti" in Padre Miguel, which served as an important reference point for the lineage—Mestre Camaleão received his "cordel azul" (Aluno Formado) there in 2012. In 2025, Camaleão became the first student from the lineage's overseas work to receive the mestre title, awarded jointly by Mestre Pantera and Mestre Poeira.

Through his students and their students, Mestre Poeira's lineage now spans four continents, carrying forward the tradition that traces back through Roque to Cobrinha Verde, Besouro, and ultimately Tio Alípio.