He was born Benedito José Viana da Costa Nunes in Belém, a major city in the north of Brazil, where he was a professor at the Federal University of Pará. He has also lectured at other universities in the south of Brazil, France and the United States.
He was born Benedito José Viana da Costa Nunes in Belém, an important urban center in northern Brazil, where he held academic positions at the Federal University of Pará. He has also lectured at other universities in southern Brazil, as well as in France and the United States.