Cutica

Nelson Moraes Paes, known as Cutica (or Índio), was a highly respected capoeirista from the Massaranduba neighborhood in Salvador's Lower City. He was part of the large Moraes Paes family—nineteen children in all, fourteen boys and five girls. His older brother Nilton (born October 16, 1937) was the firstborn and also a renowned capoeirista.

Cutica learned capoeira through the traditional street rodas of Salvador's Lower City. He first trained with Ninho from Ribeira, joining his brother Nilton in rodas at Argolo Square, the small crossroads between Massaranduba and Jardim Cruzeiro. The brothers then studied with Mestre Pierrô and Mestre Zeca do Uruguai, carrying their berimbaus the short walk—not even a kilometer—from Massaranduba to the Uruguai neighborhood.

Cutica was part of a notable group of capoeiristas active in Salvador's Lower City, which included Pierrô, Cobrinha do Morro (Pedro Caipora), Risadinha da Rua Chile, Edinho do Uruguai, Ninho, Cacua, João Caveirinha (known as a skilled berimbau player), Nilton, Edinho Bufo-Bufo, and the elder Mestre Zeca do Uruguai. Pierrô, Zeca, and Nilton organized and commanded many capoeira Angola rodas in the streets of this region.

Cutica's most significant legacy lies in his role training the young Norival Moreira de Oliveira, who would become the legendary Mestre Nô. When Norival's family moved to Massaranduba in 1952, the seven-year-old found Nilton and Cutica living down the block. The brothers, described as "highly respected capoeiristas", took young Norival to meet the elder masters Pierrô and Zeca, beginning his formal capoeira education.

On September 18, 1964, Cutica and his brother Nilton jointly awarded Norival his diploma, certifying him to teach. Mestre Nô went on to become known worldwide as "mestre dos mestres" (master of masters) for having graduated over 75 students to the level of Master—a record likely unmatched in capoeira history.

Cutica died on December 26, 1970, at the age of 29. His younger brother Fernando Olímpio Paes Filho (known as Fernandinho or Mano, 1948-2001) also practiced capoeira and rose to become a contra-mestre under Mestre Caiçara in Rio de Janeiro, continuing the family tradition. In 1979, during a party at the Academia de Capoeira Angola Orixás da Bahia, tribute was paid to the late Nilton and Cutica, honoring their contributions to the lineage.