Skip to content

Biography · Music

Zé Espinguela

1890–1945

Brazil

BIOGRAPHYPortrait not availableExplore the life, work and source references.
Visit the source record ↗

Biography

José Gomes da Costa, also called Zé Spinelli and Zé Espinguela (c. 1890–1945), was a Brazilian journalist, writer, pai-de-santo, and samba musician, who was a member of the Bloco dos Arengueiros, a founder of the Estação Primeira de Mangueira, and an organizer of one of the first samba competitions on 20 January 1929. The contest occurred at his house on Rua Adolpho Bergamini in the Engenho de Dentro neighborhood, the same area where Arranco samba school now stands.

Sources & collection details

Wikipedia contributors — original record ↗

Black heritage reference ↗

Biography text · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Continue exploring Series 1

Arts, Music & Culture →Education & Ideas →

Explore all Series 1 cards →

Keep exploring