Quando o meu mestre se foi
Toda a Bahia chorou
Iaia ioio
Iaia ioio iaia ioio
Oi menino com quem aprendeu
Oi menino com quem aprendeu
Aprendeu a jogar capoeira aprendeu
Quem me ensinou já morreu
Quem me ensinou já morreu
O seu nome esta gravado
Na terra onde ele nasceu
Salve o Mestre Bimba
Salve Ilha de maré
Salve o mestre que me ensinou
A mandinga de bater com o pé
Iaia ioio
Iaia ioio iaia ioio
Mandingueiro
Venho de malé bolência
Era ligeiro o meu mestre
Que jogava conforme a cadência
No bater do Berimbau
Salve o Mestre Bimba
Criador da regional
Salve o mestre bimba Criador da regional
Iaia ioio
Iaia ioio iaia ioio
Aprendeu meia- lua aprendeu
Muitas vezes na beira da praia
E martelo, rabo- de- arraia
Jogava no pé da ladeira
Salve são salvador
Salve Ilha de maré
Salve o mestre que me ensinou
A mandinga de bater com o pé
Iaia ioio
Iaia ioio iaia ioio
Quando meu mestre se foi
Toda a Bahia chorou
Iaia ioio
Iaia ioio iaia ioio
When my master was gone
All Bahia cried
Iaia ioio
Iaia ioio iaia ioio
Hi boy from whom you learned
Hi boy you learned from Learn to play capoeira learned
Whoever taught me has died
Whoever taught me has died
Your name is engraved
In the land where he was born
Save Master Bimba
Save Tidal Island
Save the master who taught me
The foot tapping mandingo
Iaia ioio
Iaia ioio iaia ioio
Witch Doctor
I come from malé bolência
My master was quick
Who played according to the cadence
At the beat of Berimbau
Save Master Bimba
Regional Creator
Save Master Bimba Creator of the regional
Iaia ioio
Iaia ioio iaia ioio
Learned half moon learned
Often on the beach
And hammer, stingray
Played at the foot of the slope
Save san salvador
Save Tidal Island
Save the master who taught me
The foot tapping mandingo
Iaia ioio
Iaia ioio iaia ioio
When my master is gone
All Bahia cried
Iaia ioio
Iaia ioio iaia ioio
This song is the most perfect and touching tribute to Mestre Bimba, the founder of Capoeira Regional. He passed away in Sao Salvador, the capital city of Bahia - the birthplace of Capoeira.
The writer is lamenting the loss of his mentor. He along with the whole town of Bahia relays out this message loudly to the sons (iaia) and daughters (ioio) of the slave masters. Mestre Bimba has taught this writer Capoeira since childhood and has perfected him in all the strategic Capoeira kicks such as 'Meia-Lua' meaning half-moon kick done with both hands on the ground.
Then he has perfected him in 'Markelo' or the hammer kick, followed by the instep kick, 'Rabo de Arraia'. He complements his master who was a great musician, cunning and clever and had powers of a Mandingueiro, or a sorcerer. He is now lamenting that since his master has passed away, the art may die down. Hence he is pleading with everyone to keep Mestre Bimba's tradition alive and to carry on his legacy by practising this rich art form.
