The great historian of Capoeira: Jair Moura

Jair Fernandes Moura, Mestre Jair Moura, was born in Salvador on August 27, 1936. He lived in Rio de Janeiro in the 1980s and returned to the Bahian capital in the 1990s. In both cities he published several articles in newspapers and magazines. who contributed decisively to increase studies related to Capoeira both in Salvador and in Rio.

Capoeira researcher and documentary filmmaker, Jair is the author of several books on the subject, including the life of the famous Mestre Bimba, creator of regional capoeira, of whom he was a disciple since the end of the 1950s. Mestre Jair Moura was the he is one of the only four capoeiristas to receive Lenço Branco directly from the hands of the Mestre - which symbolizes the title of Mestre in regional capoeira.

Mestre Bimba - in a white shirt, on the side - and Jair Moura, squatting "at the foot of the berimbau" near Bimba, ready to start the game. Photo taken in 1956 during one of the performances in Rio de Janeiro

"Mestre Jair was perhaps the guy who started this preservation of the history of Capoeira. He was always an observant guy and very honest. He was one of the guys who were considered the most by my father. I considered him like an older brother. He spoke a lot and my father considered him a lot. He had been my father's student since the 1950s and was the last capoeirista to receive the Lenço Branco from my father. In addition, he published several books , texts and made choices, not just from my father, like Capoeira Angola and Regional. He certainly had immeasurable importance," Mestre Nenel, son of Mestre Bimba, told CORREIO.

Jair Moura was also responsible for several photographic recordings of Mestre Bimba and other capoeiristas from Bahia and Rio de Janeiro.

Mestre Jair Moura was also a friend of Glauber Rocha. They always met in front of the Colégio Central da Bahia, located in the Nazaré district, where the filmmaker studied. He was the friend of another great researcher of capoeira: the historian Frederico José de Abreu (1947 - 2013), Frede, who published several books on capoeira in the country and founded the Instituto Jair Moura, which was named for his friend and had a collection of over 40,000 titles, including books, newspaper clippings, magazines, CDs, photos and videos.

Jair also worked at the Instituto Geográfico e Histórico da Bahia (IGHB), where he was an editor, director, writer and essayist.

Jair Moura next to Mestre Daniel Coutinho in the old Beco do Girassol, in Baixa dos Sapateiros, in the 1960s

Jair Moura next to Mestre Totonho de Maré, in the 1960s

Photo taken at the pier in the port of Salvador, in 1968. From left to right, José Izidoro de Carvalho (Gajé), Domingos André dos Santos (DiMola), Daniel Coutinho (Noronha), Antônio Laurindo das Neves (Totonho de Maré), last tambourine Manoel Olimpio de Souza (Indian). Crouching: João Grande, Jair Moura and João Pequeno. Scene from the film Dança de Guerra, by Jair Moura

Works:

Among his most famous works are the book "Mestre Bimba: Uma Vida dedicated to Capoeiragem", bringing together archives, stories and anecdotes around the creator of regional capoeira, with whom he had excellent relations, and "Capoeiragem in Rio de Janeiro through the centuries”, which shows that his vision of capoeira was not limited to Bahia.

He also directed the documentary Dança de Guerra (1968), with the participation of Mestre Bimba, Mestre Tiburcinho, Mestre Totonho de Maré and Mestre Noronha, and released the album Dança de Guerra (1960), with the soundtrack of the film by the same Last name.

Mestre Jair Moura is survived by two children: Jacir Moura, 44, and Moacir Moura, 42.

Tributes:

The Contramestre, researcher and publisher of Portal Capoeira Luciano Milani recalled that Jair dedicated his life to studying Capoeira and spreading its history through films, books and studies, "always available to help and spread his knowledge". "I had the pleasure of participating, with Mestre Jair Moura and Frede Abreu, in the evaluation committee of Capoeira Viva projects, in 2007. Good memories in the exchange of information and the conversation about our capoeiragem.. A Mestre with enormous knowledge that leaves an enormous cultural contribution,” he wrote.

In a note, the Secretary of Culture of the State of Bahia (Secult-BA) mourned the death of Mestre Jair Moura and highlighted his legacy and his immense contribution to the preservation of the history of capoeira and the great masters. See full note.

"The Secretary of Culture of the State of Bahia deplores the death of Mestre Jair Moura. Disciple of Mestre Bimba since the end of the 1950s, having been one of the only 04 to receive directly from his hands the Lenço Branco which symbolizes the title of Mestre in regional capoeira, the writer, historian and filmmaker was one of the precursors in studies and research on capoeira in Brazil.

Mestre Jair Moura disseminated the production of knowledge around capoeira, giving conferences throughout Brazil, publishing books, such as "Mestre Bimba: Uma Vida dedicated to Capoeiragem", bringing together files, stories and anecdotes around the creator of the regional capoeira, with whom he had an excellent relationship, and “Capoeiragem no Rio de Janeiro through the centuries”, which shows that his vision of capoeira was not limited to Bahia. He wrote articles for newspapers and magazines that contributed decisively to encouraging capoeira studies.

As a filmmaker, he stands out among the productions in which “Dança de Guerra” (1968) was involved, a unique historical record, which brings performances and records from masters such as João Pequeno, Bimba and João Grande. The collection of images from this film also generated the photographic exhibition “Comrade a du sens! Capoeira has a 'foundation', which is permanently on display in the Fort of Santo Antônio Além do Carmo (Forte da Capoeira). Jair Moura was also a member of the Geographical and Historical Institute of Bahia (IGHB), an institution currently supported by the Culture Fund.

SecultBA recognizes the immense contribution of Jair Moura to the preservation of the history of capoeira and the grand maesters, his legacy remains and stimulates other generations of researchers, maestres and intellectuals. Our solidarity with friends, loved ones and Capoeira who is in mourning on this day."

Source: Newspaper article: correio24horas.com.br

To consult:

Dance Dance movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op5kaW31OiQ

Dança de guerra color movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dk8wtJmeig

PDF book: A capoeiragem no Rio de Janeiro: https://www.capoeirashop.fr/img/cms/Jair-Moura-A-capoeiragem-no-Rio-de-Janeiro-pdf.pdf