Nationality and Education:
Born in Angola , he emigrated to Brasil in 1974 before coming to Portugal in the 80s. He spent some time in Australia and currently lives in Portugal .
He began his training as a percussionist in Angola and then at the Imperatriz Leopoldinense Samba School in Rio de Janeiro .
He studied at the Portuguese Youth Musical Institute and at the University of Sydney under Professor Michael Ryan (acting Director of the department of World Music).
Professional Curriculum:
Ruca performed with Rão Kyao,Teresa Salgueiro, Couple Coffee,Sadao Watanabe, Toquinho, Alejandro Sans, Paulo de Carvalho, Ivan Lins, Paulo Bragança, Rosana, Martinho da Vila, Fafá de Belém, Tommy Campbell, Steve Thornton, Sergio Godinho, Vitorino, Filipa Pais, Lucia Monis, Janita Salomé, George Witty, Roberto Leal, Moonspell, Fúria do Açúcar, Mafalda Sachetti, João Braga, Velez and many more.
Ruca recorded more then 60 albuns
With his percussion group NGoma Makamba:
A selection of shows around the world:
South Africa Tour with Sadao Watanabe including participation in the North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town 2004.
Tour of Italy in 2004 for 15 days with concerts in several cities.
Japan Tour with Sadao Watanabe in 2003
Concert with Sadao Watanabe in Nara , Japan celebrating the anniversary of the Buddhist Temple in Oct 2002.
Asia Tour and live recording of two concerts for Japanese television (NHK) and Tokyo FM in July and August 2002.
Opening of the World Soccer Championship 2002 in Japan May 2002.
European Tour Nov 2001
Asian Tour with Sadao Watanabe Taiwan , Hong Kong , Singapore , Malaysia Oct 2001
Japan Tour with Sadao Watanabe August 2001
TV recording with Sadao Watanabe for NHK in Tokyo , December 2000
European Tour ( Holland , France , Belgium ) including the Jazz and World Music Festival, October 2000.
Japan Summer Tour July 2000
Blue Note Tokyo 4 night concert June 2000.
Kirin the Club Festival in Tokyo , June 1999
Special Christmas Concert with Sadao Watanabe in Tokyo , December 1998 for NHK TV.
A selection of shows in Portugal :
Loures Festival Community Space
RDP Africa Opening Ceremony
Eunice Muñoz Opening Ceremony
United Nations Human Rights Festival
Africa Day Festival
African Gala Theater Maria Matos
City Festival Guarda
Participation in the CD Red Hot Lisbon
EXPO 98
Concert with General D
Belem Cultural Center (CCB) A Fúria do Açúcar Concert
Évora City Festival
With a Fúria do Açúcar
- Member of the group from 1992 to 2005 with João Melo.
- Recorded 4 Albums
- More than 600 concerts over 13 years in Portugal at local festivals, discos, academic festivals, etc
- Internet site which was awarded with two prizes.
- Participation in all channels of Portuguese TV between 1992 and 2005.
- Three Video clips (Batman, Joana and In the Navy)
With Other Artists
- Percussionist in "La Serena" with Teresa Salgueiro & Lusitânia Ensemble, tour 2007/2008. The Cd "La Serena" - Nov. 2007. Concerts all over the world.
- Concerts in Portugal with Paulo de Carvalho e Ivan Lins 2006
- Percussionist for the Rão Kyaos Band since 2003 Concerts and Music Festivals in Portugal, Brazil, Italy, Marrocco, France, Spain, Cape Verde, Angola.
- Percussionist for Mafalda Sacchetti including recording of her first CD.
- Percussionist for the band of Paulo de Carvalho 2005
- Special Guest as a percussionist for the Roberto Leal tour
- Tour with Martinho da Vila in Brazil 2000 (Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Bahia). Including participation in PercPan 2000 in Salvador .
- Special Guest of Moonspell at the Coliseu in Lisbon in 2000.
-Participation in the Percussion Project Tocarufar with Rui Júnior e O ó que o som tem? during Expo 98 and the Asia Tour with WOK in 2000.
- Founding Member and Conga Player of Orquestra Salpicante the resident band of Bar Salsa Latina from 1995 to 2004. Shows throughout Portugal with the Orchestra.
- Valdez e As Piranhas Douradas with Pedro Wilson founded the group. Recorded a CD with Valentim de Carvalho. Awarded the best live band of 1993.
- Tour with Paulo Bragança USA - 1997.
- Percussionist with Fafá de Belém for European Concerts since 98.
- Participation on TV with Alejandro Sanz and Rosana.
- In 2001, was musician with the orchestra and did Executive Production of the Eurovision Song Festival for RTP 1.
- Performed several concerts with Sérgio Godinho, Vitorino, Rão Kyao, Janita Salomé, Felipa Pais and João Braga.
- While a resident of Australia gave several workshops on Brazilian and African rhythms.
- In Australia with the group Palmares, participated in several festivals of Jazz and World Music all over the country.