Raízes do Brasil Capoeira - New York

The son of João Grosso and Maria Haifa, Manuel Henriques, learned capoeira from Tio Alípio (an ex African slave), around the Rua do Trapiche de Baixo located at Santo Amaro da Purificação (Bahia). Tio Alípio gave Manuel Henriques the nickname of "Besouro Mangangá" due to his ability to quickly disappear whenever he was around a belligerent group or facing danger. As he was a famous and strong capoeirista, the word spread out and quickly came up the legend that Besouro Mangangá had supernatural power. He would not only disappear when facing danger, but also turn into a big black beetle, scaring everyone around. The legend also says that Besouro would fight an entire police troop that would come riding horses to arrest capoeiristas at that time. In 1924, at the age of 27, Besouro Mangangá was caught in an ambush, stabbed and killed with a "ticum" knife (type of knife made from bull's bone). Important names to the capoeira world such as Mestre Cobrinha verde (his cousin) and Siri de Mangue were his student.

"...tum tum tum Besouro Mangangá, bateu foi na polícia de soldado a general..."