Cape Verde's Tcheka plays heartfelt set in Nairobi

On 13 July, Roots International in collaboration with the Alliance Francaise showcased for the first time in Nairobi Cape Verdean musician Tcheka. With no backing band, elaborate visuals or high production value, Tcheka's stage set-up consisted of nothing more than a chair, two small monitors and two microphones: one for his vocals and the other for his classical and Portuguese guitars. The singer alternates playing the two and in the process gives the audience tonal variation and dynamic range.

Early in his career, Tcheka played the traditional viola and the Portuguese guitar, which was adopted in Cape Verdean music.

"I am somebody who wants a project on his terms with the guitar, I have to have this close relationship with the instrument, and just keep on working," he told Afropop Worldwide in 2017. "An instrument like a saxophone or piano has its sound. But the guitar lets you create so many sounds, and it also forces you to play every day. I noticed if I don't play for two days, I lose that touch."

Tcheka also told the publication that his music was not getting the recognition that he would like. "A lot of younger people don't know me. Or they might know me but they don't consume my music."

Contrary to that, Tcheka is no stranger in East Africa. His debut in the region was at the 2015 edition of Sauti za Busara festival in Zanzibar. The Zanzibar experience gave the artist aspirations to explore East Africa further.

Now in Kenya, Tcheka showcased his fusion style of genres from Cape Verde such as funana, coladeira, batuque, tabanka and finason. His music also references influences from the rest of Africa as well as Brazil and Cuba.

He kicked of his performance with 'Antuneku', a song set the tone for the rest of the performance: mellow and peaceful. Tcheka went on into a set of 12 pieces bearing a variety of moods. The set included hits like 'Madalena', released in 2011, 'Strada', which is off his 2017 album Boka Kafé, and 'Nu Monda' off the 2002 album of the same name.

Audience participation was not a big part of the show because it simply wasn’t necessary. The laidback and intimate mood provided an excellent medium for Tcheka to highlight his warm vocal tone and flowing playing style, which created the prefect ambiance for the audience to meditatively experience his music.

Although his songs were in Portuguese, the emotions on his face were enough to tell a story. Not many artists can sing for over an hour in an intimate set and not miss a note, but Tcheka gave a perfect performance that had the audience exit the venue in introspection.