16/09/2026
Today, we received the sad news of the passing of Mestre Deputado, one of the discípulos de Bimba I had the privilege to meet.
We send our deepest condolences to his family, Mestre Velho José, and the entire capoeira community.
Salve Mestre Deputado!
Today I lost my father. Capoeira lost one of its mestres.
Walce Souza — Mestre Deputado — began his journey in capoeira under Mestre Osvaldo de Souza before training under the legendary Mestre Bimba himself, going on to become one of the great propagators of the art across Brazil and other countries. His nickname, they say, came straight from Bimba — because he knew so many people, "you'd have to be a deputado to know that many." It stuck for the rest of his life.
But to me he wasn't a legend, a Wikipedia entry or an old story from the roda. He was my father. My mestre. The man who taught me the ginga before I could really understand what it meant — and everything it would come to mean.
He is gone this morning, but everything he gave me is still here. I'm still teaching. I'll keep carrying it forward, for him, for me and for everyone.
Obrigado, Pai.
Obrigado, Mestre.
Descanse em paz.
