Mestre Pastinha

Vincente Ferreira Pastinha was born in 1889, son of Jose Senor Pastinha and and Dona Maria Eugenia Ferreira. His father was a Spanish merchant who owned a small store in the historic center of Salvador. His mother, with whom he had little contact, was black. She was from Santo Amaro de Purificacao, and made her living by selling acaraje and washing clothes for wealthier families in Bahia’s capital.

Still a young boy, Mestre Pastinha became familiar with the art of Capoeira when he was only 8 years old.  An old African man, who he lovingly called Tio Benedito, saw the small skinny boy take a beating from an older kid. He decided to teach Pastinha the art of Capoeira. During three years, the boy spent entire afternoons in an old room on Tijolo Street in Salvador practicing movements such as meia-lua, rasteira, rabo de arraia, and many others. In that room, he learned to play with life and to be a winner.

He lead a happy but modest childhood.  Every morning, he would go to class in Liceu de Artes e Oficio, where he also learned to paint. In the afternoons, he would fly his kite and play Capoeira. At thirteen, he was the most respected and feared kid in his neighborhood. Later on, his father enrolled him in a Naval School, Escola de Aprendizes Marinheiros, since he did not agree with his son’s misconduct. There, Pastinha learned the secrets of the ocean as he taught his colleagues the manhas of Capoeira.

At 21, he returned to Salvador’s historic center, leaving the Navy to dedicate himself to his painting, and become a professional painter. He dedicated his free time to Capoeira. His practice was done in secret, since at the turn of the century, the fight was considered a crime in the Republic’s Penal Code. 

In February, 1941, he founded the Capoeira Angola Sport Center, in house #19 in Largo do Pelourinho. This was his first Capoeira school/ academy. Discipline and organization were the basic rules in Mestre Pastinha’s school. He and his students always wore black pants and yellow shirts, the colors of Ypiranga Futebol Club, Mestre Pastinha’s favorite soccer team.

Mestre Pastinha traveled all around the world, as he represented Brasil through Capoeira in many black art festivals. He used all of his talents to value the art of Capoeira. He made verses, and even wrote a book, Capoeira Angola, published in 1964 by Grafica Loreto.

Mestre Pastinha worked very hard in favor of Capoeira. He divulged the art as much as he could, and was recognized by many celebrities, who were amazed at his performances.

When he was 84, and severely physically debilitated, Pastinha left his academy’s headquarters to live in a dingy old room in Pelourinho with his second wife, Dona Maria Romelia. The only income they survived on was the little money his wife made by selling acaraje. On April 12, 1981, Pastinha participated in the last game of his life. This time, he played his death. He, who so many times had played with life, was defeated by disease and misery. He died at age 92, blind and paralyzed in the D. Pedro II shelter, in Slavador.

Pastinha died on a Friday on November 13, 1981, as the victim of heart failure. Because of his frail state, it was fatal.

Small but remarkable at his art, Mestre Pastinha left us his life lessons and many strong and unforgettable messages like this:

“Nobody can show all they’ve got. The deliveries and revelations have to be given little by little. This is true for capoeira, family, and life. There are moments that cannot be shared with anybody, and within these moments, are secrets that cannot be told to just anyone.”

Mestre Pastinha 10/10/1980