Viva Msimang (also known by her moniker, AUKA) is a trombonist, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, DJ and broadcaster from London.
She has played at iconic venues and festival stages nationally and internationally, and has toured and recorded with world-class artists such as Arlo Parks, Little Simz, Jessie Ware, Easy Life, Sampa The Great, Potter Payper and Tom Grennan.
She is the founder of all-female Latin-Jazz project COLECTIVA, who have fast established the new aphex between London’s Jazz and Latin scenes, selling out landmark venues such as Barbican Centre and The Jazz Cafe and touring internationally including multiple performances at SXSW (Texas, USA) and whose debut album is hotly anticipated in 2022.
As a broadcaster, Viva is resident at Worldwide FM, where her monthly show explores the boundaries between music, art and our collective responses to the biggest issues of our day, with a hope to inspire those who engage to feel empowered to create change. Focussing on music and music-makers rooted in the continents of Africa, South America, and the beating heart of the diaspora, the show is particularly interested in highlighting creators infusing activism in their work. She also co-hosts a monthly show on Soho Radio with Colectiva.
AUKA’s live DJ sets take the dancefloor on a sonic journey filled to the brim with percussive offerings, folkloric melodies and quaking bass lines from her bag of eclectic beats, global bass and tropical cuts, in celebration of Pan-African and Latinx grooves past and present.
She has performed at London mainstays The Standard Hotel, NT's Loft, and The Jago, headlined Basket of Light festival, and has delivered guest mixes for Jazz FM, Balaami Radio, and Rundem Radio.
VIVA MSIMANG 