Luana (singer)

Luana, also known as Chéjah (born as Stephanie Cea), is a mc (it s wrong to say rapper...!!) and singer from Basel and one of Switzerland's foremost hip hop pioneers who started writing rhymes in 1983 when she first heard about the Rock Steady Crew. She later became a Zulu Queen and as such, a member of the Zulu Nation. She debuted on Fresh Stuff 1, the first Swiss rap compilation on vinyl in the late 80s. Her performances where very known in the Coupole in Biel in the early 90s - when she was sharing the stage with groups like Duty Free, I AM, NTM, Lord Finesse, Sens Unik and many many others. She opened up shows for De La Soul, Run DMC, Joe Cocker, 2Unlimited and others.

Most of her rhymes and songs are in English.

Only on the compilation "Wake Up" (1993 - a drug prevention / awareness project which she started with her brother Umberto Cea and other MCs such as Kalmoo, JS One, Black Tiger, the Black brothers and other artists from Basel-City. On the album "Wake Up" she was rapping in Swiss German dialect. The consequence of the Wake-Up album is todays Youth cultural Festival called JUGENDKULTURFESTIVAL that takes place every other summer in Basel eversince the Wake-Up album came out. 

Her debut album was called "Seriosistas" and was released in Switzerland in 1996. It featured guest appearances by Afrika Bambaataa, Cora E and Azania Steady. She worked with DJ Ace and Mad Professor. She toured Switzerland with DJ Ace and DJ Def Cut.

After that, Luana (converted to christianity by visiting Prince Whipper Whip in L.A.) reinvented herself as Chéjah, producing a rap-flavoured R&B two-track-single called "I Had A Dream/G.O.D.". Now you can visit her on myspace - search for luana aloa. Read her biography and hear some of her tracks on myspace.com/luanarap. Get in touch with her personally on facebook: LUANA STEFY STEF  !

Discography

LP

• Seriosistas (1996)

Single

• I Had A Dream/G.O.D. (2000)

External links

• http://www.geocities.com/iglu01/hiphop/chejah.html - German language interview