Mestre Bimba & Capoeira Regional

Manuel dos Reis Machado was born on 23 November 1899, in the district of Brotas, Engenho Velho, in the city of Salvador in the State of Bahia.

His parents were Luis Cândido Machado, Batuqueiro, and Lady Maria Martinha of Bonfim. His nickname, Mestre Bimba, arose from a bet between his mother and the midwife as to whether he would be a boy or a girl. Being a boy, he had a Bimba, referring to his masculine genitals.

At this time capoeiristas were marginalised; police chief Pedro de Araújo Gordilho ('Pedrito') terrorised the Bahian capoeiristas. Capoeiristas began to hide themselves and disguise capoeira, which came to be regarded as folklore, with fighting capoeiristas, making way for capoeira dancers on the stage. These dancers were known as 'pseudo-angolas', and knew how to perform only some of the capoeira movements, like the ginga.

Feeling that capoeira was losing its identity, efficiency and place, Bimba developed the capoeira methodology, and named it Regional Bahiana. Possessing a creative spirit and great intelligence, being an excellent practitioner of capoeira and close to Batuque (an antiquated fighting method), Mestre Bimba became the biggest name in capoeira: the very image of war.

In 1932 he founded the first Academy in Engenho Velho, Brotas. He was also teaching in upper-class private residences, in 'Roça do Lobo'. On 9 June 1937, he registered his school with the Ministry for Education, Health and Social Welfare; his was the first capoeira school authorised to teach capoeira. By 1939 he was also teaching 'Regional' in the military barracks of the Training Centre for Officers of the Brazilian Reserves. He opened his second academy in 1942.

On 23 July 1953, when President Getúlio Vargas visited the Palácio da Aclamação with Dr Régis Pacheco, Governor of Bahia, Mestre Bimba gave a capoeira presentation. The President announced capoeira to be the one, truly national sport, and instituted Mestre Bimba's course in Colleges, Barracks of the Army, and the Military Police.

1968 commemorated 50 years of Capoeira Regional, and the Second Brazilian Capoeira Symposium took place. Mestre Bimba attended the event and returned before becoming disillusioned due to a lack of support from the authorities and a series of false promises. President Médice helped him in Goiânia, in the Goiás Expo in 1971, and in 1973 Mestre Bimba moved to Goiânia.

On 5 February 1974 he suffered a stroke and died of a heart attack. His mortal remains were taken to Salvador in 1978, and later deposited in Grave no.194 in the Convent of the Third Order of the Carmelites in the Historical Centre on 5 February 1994.