Marcio Silva Andrade, better known in the capoeira world as Professor Nego, was born on September 23, 1980 in Ipatinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Professor Nego was first exposed to Capoeira when he was 12 years old and instantly felt a deep connection to it.

In 2000 after graduating as a Capoeira Professor, Nego arrived in Guadalajara JAL. Mexico where he spent 2 years teaching and Organizing capoeira events.

In 2002 professor Nego arrived in Vancouver B.C. where he still lives and heads Grupo Capoeira Males. Nego has organized 4 capoeira festivals in Vancouver and performed in many shows and events. Nego takes pride in working with the community to promote the art of capoeira and the Brazilian culture.

The batizado is a celebration to officially welcome new students into the capoeira community. It is an occasion where beginners will meet members of Grupo Capoeira Malês as well as the founders, Contra Mestre Lua and Mestre Curisco.

It is common for a capoeirista to receive a nickname, a tradition held over since the time capoeira was prohibited in Brazil. Capoeiristas traditionally received a nickname to hide their identity from slave owners and officials who wished to capture or jail them.