On October 25th, 2025, the WorldBeat Cultural Center hosted Batizado 2025, a powerful celebration of African Brazilian heritage and the living tradition of Capoeira. Led by Mestre Preto Velho (Dennis Newsome), the ceremony brought together Grand Mestre Touro, Mestre Caveira, Contra-Mestre Bode Contador, and students from across the community. New students were officially welcomed into the roda through the sacred Batizado initiation, while returning practitioners were honored for their progress and continued dedication to the Capoeira path. The energy of the roda was filled with music, acrobatics, and ancestral song, creating an atmosphere of unity, gratitude, and deep cultural pride.
It’s heartwarming to see students grow up in this tradition—grounded in discipline, culture, history, and a sense of family. I’ve known some of these youth since they were five years old, and now they are teenagers and young adults. This is why we need to build cultural centers like the WorldBeat Center, places that preserve and uplift our history and our culture from across the African diaspora. Batizado 2025 stood as both a tribute to Capoeira’s enduring roots in resistance and liberation, and a celebration of its evolving future—honoring the masters who paved the way and uplifting those who will carry the tradition forward.
This year’s celebration also held special meaning, as Mestre Preto Velho, after many years of leadership, symbolically passed the baton to the next generation of master teachers, represented by Contra-Mestre Bode Contador. Mestre Preto Velho has done a magnificent job nurturing the children of our community, teaching them their ancient history through Capoeira Angola. And to his master, Grand Mestre Touro—maximum respect for keeping alive the remembrance of our ancestors.
Muito obrigada. Thank you.
