Mestre Baiano

Edvaldo dos Santos Reis was born on August 30, 1945, in Salvador, Bahia, the son of Jacinto José dos Reis and Alice Apostola dos Santos. At just ten years old, he began learning capoeira from Washington Bruno da Silva—Mestre Canjiquinha, known as "a alegria da capoeira" (the joy of capoeira). This seven-year apprenticeship (1955-1962) under one of capoeira's most innovative and beloved mestres would shape his entire life.

In 1962, Edvaldo also completed a Regional Capoeira course administered by Mestre Bimba in Salvador, expanding his technical repertoire beyond his Angola foundation. That same year, he entered military service as a fuzileiro naval (naval marine) in Bahia and later transferred to Rio de Janeiro—a move that would define the trajectory of his life's work.

While in Rio de Janeiro, Edvaldo pursued formal dance education, graduating in Afro Dance from Academia Rio. This training enabled him to understand capoeira within the broader context of African diaspora movement traditions and positioned him as both a martial artist and a cultural educator.

On January 1, 1970, Edvaldo founded the Associação de Capoeira Engenho (ACE) in the then-state of Guanabara (now Rio de Janeiro). The organization became a pioneering institution in the post-capital federal era, actively participating in the structuring of capoeira's legal and sporting framework. Edvaldo contributed directly to drafting the bylaws and regulations for capoeira through the Confederação Brasileira de Pugilismo in Rio de Janeiro.

His performance career took him across the globe. As a professor of folk dances, he participated in show groups including Rio Antigo, Palmares, Postais da Bahia, and Brasil Canta e Dança. As a cultural promoter, he brought capoeira performances to more than 30 countries. One of his most celebrated moments came during a New Year's celebration at the palace of King Hassan II of Morocco, where he received a standing ovation from the monarch himself.

As a composer, Edvaldo created numerous songs that were adopted in capoeira rodas throughout Brazil and abroad, though specific titles remain undocumented in available sources.

In Rio de Janeiro, Edvaldo developed intensive work with samba schools, particularly the famous Salgueiro, for more than 15 years. His activities blended capoeira with Afro dance instruction. He also worked at SESC Tijuca for over 20 years, developing programs for seniors, children, teenagers, adolescents, and university students.

In 1995, ACE began work in the Costa Barros neighborhood, gaining community recognition by 1996. The organization has grown into a major cultural institution with 8 mestres, 20 contra-mestres, and 40 instructors. It has expanded to multiple Brazilian states (Bahia, São Paulo, Alagoas) and international locations (Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece, Holland, Argentina).

In 1996, Edvaldo received the title of Capoeira Master with the White Cord—representing 30 years as a Capoeira Master—from the Federação de Capoeira do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.

At the VI Rede Capoeira event in January 2025 (January 22-25, at Doca 1, Polo de Economia Criativa, Comércio, Salvador), Mestre Baiano—now over 80 years old—received the Sankofa trophy as a "herói popular" (popular hero). He was honored alongside fellow octogenarian mestres Virgílio da Fazenda Grande, Boa Gente, Fernando de Saubara, and Nô. The Sankofa symbol—an African bird with its head turned backwards—represents returning to the past to resignify the present and build the future.

His son, Antonio Marcos dos A. Reis (Mestre Grandão), continues his legacy, having trained under his father from childhood and now coordinating capoeira activities throughout Camaçari, Bahia.