Like so many young Cape Verdeans, Tcheka’s secondary education had to be cut short because his family could not afford it, so his teenage years were spent fishing, diving and exploring the coast around his hometown. It was during this period he also began composing songs.
Kama vile vijana wadogo waki Cape Verde, elimu ya sekondari ya cheka ililazimika kukatishwa kwasababu familia yake haikuweza kumudu gharama hivyo katika miaka yake ya ujana ilitumika katika uvuvi, kupiga mbizi pamoja na kutembea akichunguza maeneo katika kisiwa chake alipozaliwa.