Popularly known by the nickname "Jomav," he was born in 1957 to Mário Vaz and Amelia Gomes in Calequisse, outside the city of Cacheu in northern Guinea-Bissau, and is married with three children.
Ia dikenal populer dengan nama panggilan "Jomav," ia dilahirkan pada tahun 1957 dari pasangan Mário Vaz dan Amelia Gomes di Calequisse, di luar kota Cacheu, wilayah Guinea-Bissau bagian utara, ia telah menikah dan dikaruniai tiga orang anak.