Mataram Besouro de Maracangalha
com faca de Ticum mandinga falha
Coro: Mataram Besouro de Maracangalha
Com faca de Ticum mandinga falha
Coro: Mataram Besouro de Maracangalha
‘Beetle from Maracangalha’
They killed a beetle from Maracangalha*
With a knife of tacum wood, mandinga is no good**
Chorus: They killed a beetle from Maracangalha
With a knife of tacum wood, mandinga is no good
Chrous: They killed a beetle from Maracangalha
* Maracangalha is a district in Bahia, in the north-east of Brazil.
** While researching this song, I read about a legend that is known among capoeiristas in Bahia, that a man who plays with a closed body (protected) can only be killed with a knife made of tacum wood. This would explain the line ’with a knife of tacum wood, mandinga is no good’ - regardless of how much you try or how well you trick your opponent, they will always be able to defeat you with a tacum knife.