Tcheka was born Manuel Lopes Andrade on July 20, 1973, on the island of Santiago in the Cape Verde archipelago, the son of violinist Nho Raul Andrade. He began to perform with his father while still a child. At age 15, he turned to the style of batuque, developing his own modern version of the traditional rhythm from the island of his birth. He released his first album, Argui! ("rise" or "stand up"), through the Lusafrica label in 2003, following it with Nu Monda ("weeding") in 2005. In June 2007, he toured North America opening for Césaria Évora. ~ William Ruhlmann