The large losses to the fleet caused by Maria and the other women is thought to have been a significant factor in the ultimate defeat of the Portuguese and liberation of the state of Bahia. Maria Felipa de Oliveira, a sea food seller from Itaparica Island, was a reputed capoeirista who, along with around 40 other women, is said to have set fire to 42 boats belonging to the Portuguese Army at the Seige of Salvador that took place during Brazil’s War of Independance. Others say that it was because she trained with a Mestre Doze Homens, others say that she was a friend and side kick of Besouro Mangangá, and others that she was in fact our final Maria for the day who was…
There are versions that say that the name “Doze Homens” stuck after she defeated (or in some cases killed!) 12 police officers in a fight. Maria Doze Homens and her friend Maria Salomé are said to have been two friends who loved samba and capoeira, and were renowned for causing trouble in Bahia in the 1920s and 1930s.Īs is always the case with oral histories, however, the details are a bit muddled and confused! One time 3 police officers tried to arrest her for being drunk and disorderly, and she managed to knock them all to the gound one after the other. Maria Homem was another infamous street fighting capoeirista from Bahia who’s memories live on in the oral tradition of capoeira songs and stories.Īccording to Mestre Pastinha she liked to drink at a bar on Pelourinho Square. Sounds to me like Dona Maria could have done with a bit of that tea! Camboatá Tree – Cupania Vernalis Ave Maria!ĭona Maria de Camboatá is not to be confused with Maria Doze Homens, Maria Homem, or Maria Felipa de Olivera – all eponymously named fearsome female figures from the history of capoeira. Its berries were traditionally used to treat digestive issues, inflammation and arthritis, and the leaves made into a tea to help high blood pressure. When she gets there, she starts shouting, then she begins to ginga, and finishes with a back flip! Where or What is Camboatá?Ĭamboatá is a town in the Pojuca region of the State of Bahia, about 100 miles North of Salvador.Ĭamboatá is also the name of a medicinal tree which is native to Brazil, scientific name Cupania Vernalis. She sends a boy to go buy something, but when he comes back, she’s not happy with the produce, so she goes back to complain. I tried to find some more information on her history, but essentially, the song is her history, so there isn’t really anything else to go on!įull translation below, but basically the song tells the following story:ĭona Maria is at the market and is bossing everyone around. Ela chega na venda e dá salto mortá Who was Dona Maria do Camboatá?ĭona Maria do Camboatá is a legendary female capoeirista, who is purported to have been a formidable fighter that lived in Bahía in the early 20th or late 19th century.
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