Editora Funmilayo Publishing is pleased to announce the upcoming publication of Dance of the Serpent: Portrait of Cobra Mansa, a Capoeira Angola Mestre, the definitive biography of one of the most influential figures in the Afro-Brazilian martial art/dance capoeira. Due out on 15 December 2025, the book traces the astonishing journey of a man who rose from the poverty-stricken streets of a Rio de Janeiro suburb to become a global master, transforming a martial art into a way of life, and dedicating his later career to environmental and social justice.

Mestre (Master) Cobra Mansa’s life is a profound testament to the power of Capoeira Angola as a tool for personal and communal liberation. Born in the deprived town of Duque de Caxias, he initially found refuge and strength in the practice, mastering the deceptive, strategic movements of the jogo (the game). He quickly ascended through the ranks of the GCAP (Grupo de Capoeira Angola Pelourinho), the organization founded by his mentor, Mestre Moraes. Along the way, he earned a PhD and became Dr Cobra Mansa.

The book details how, as a young man, Cobra Mansa became instrumental in establishing Capoeira Angola in the United States and worldwide. He has spent decades travelling, ensuring the art—a living link to the history of the Forced African Diaspora—retained its cultural authenticity and philosophical depth, always emphasizing that capoeira is more than a practice; it is a dynamic way of existing in the world.

The biography also examines the Mestre’s social activism. After teaching in the USA, Cobra Mansa returned to Brazil to found Kilombo Tenondé, an Afro-Brazilian centre dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of Afro-Brazilians and Indigenous people while practicing permaculture and sustainable farming. His current mission is the preservation of ancestral wisdom and the construction of autonomous, thriving communities.

Dance of the Serpent is an essential read for enthusiasts of martial arts, Black history, cultural studies, and anyone seeking an inspiring account of transformation and purpose.

About Mestre Cobra Mansa

Mestre Cobra Mansa is a renowned master of Capoeira Angola, recognized globally for his deep understanding of the art’s African roots. His life has been dedicated to teaching, preserving cultural heritage, and applying the philosophies of Capoeira to environmental and community development projects in Brazil.

Mestre Cobra Mansa, Moscow, 24 April 2007. Photo by Zac Allan. Source: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain