Chmba

Chmba Ellen Chilemba (born 25 March 1994), popularly known as Chmba, is a Malawian social entrepreneur, DJ, and music producer.[1] She is the founder of Tiwale, a youth‑led organization based in Malawi that supports women and gender minorities through education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship.[2]

Early life and education

Chilemba was born in Blantyre, Malawi, and raised in Lilongwe.[3] She graduated in 2010 from the African Leadership Academy in South Africa.[4] She later attended Mount Holyoke College, earning a bachelor's degree in economics and studio art.[1] At age 15, Chilemba witnessed a close friend being forced into marriage, which she has described as a formative experience that became a motivating factor behind her later work in education and community development. .[5]

Career

In 2012, Chilemba founded Tiwale, a youth‑led community organization focused on improving access to education and economic resources for women and gender minorities.[3] The name “Tiwale” means “let us shine” in Chichewa.[6] The organization was launched at a time when child marriage was still legal in Malawi.[7]

Tiwale provides programs such as business and design workshops, vocational training (e.g., fashion design, sewing, tie‑dye), and classes in music tech, digital literacy, and STEM.[3] It also offers education grants, classes, access to a library, and menstrual and mental health workshops.[8] The organization partners with Malawi’s Ministry of Health to deliver sexual health education and distribute sanitary products.[6]

As of 2021, Tiwale had supported over 367 women and gender minorities.[3] Its microloan program saw a 100% repayment rate among the first 40 participants, many of whom started their own businesses.[9] During the COVID‑19 pandemic, Tiwale distributed over 26,000 masks and reached more than 20,000 youth through awareness campaigns.[6] Supporters include The Headley Trust, Frida Fund, Global Changemakers, and The Shawn Foundation.[6]

Under the name Chmba, Chilemba has performed globally.[2] Her style blends Afro‑electronic, indie, and house influences, with themes of culture, identity, and mental health.[1] She began experimenting with music at a young age and received her first DJ controller at 18.[3] She has performed at the World Economic Forum, BBC Radio 6 Music, Women Deliver, Tumaini Festival, and Madonna's private Oscars event.[10][11] She has shared lineups with Angélique Kidjo, Nile Rodgers, Metro Boomin, and Laura Mvula.[1]

Her 2020 debut EP, Mtima Rising, received over 10,000 streams.[12] She has been featured in DJ Mag, BBC Radio, and was named ISGUBHU Artist of the Month by Apple Music.[13] She is signed to the music distribution platform Platoon.[14]

Awards and recognition

Chilemba was named a Global Teen Leader in 2013 by the We Are Family Foundation and was featured on Humans of New York.[15] In 2015, she was featured in Forbes Africa’s “30 Under 30” list and received the Powell Exemplary Leader Award.[16] She was also a finalist for the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Awards.[17]

In 2016, she received the Humanitarian Award from the We Are Family Foundation.[18] In 2017, she was named Glamour Magazine’s College Woman of the Year.[19] She has been a Goalkeeper with the Gates Foundation, a Global Citizen Youth Advocate, a One Young World Ambassador, and an Ashoka Future Forward Awardee.[2] In 2021, she was named a Kofi Annan Changemaker and received a Seed Award from the Prince Claus Fund.[20] She currently serves as Director of the Youth To The Front Fund at the We Are Family Foundation.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Chmba Ellen Chilemba '17". Mount Holyoke College. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Marketing, ALA (28 June 2021). "Chmba Ellen Chilemba '10 Recognized as 2021 Kofi Annan Changemaker". African Leadership Academy. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e Online, Nation (10 December 2023). "Ellen Chilemba: Founder of Tiwale Community‑Based Organisation". Nation Online. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  4. ^ Marketing, ALA (27 November 2018). "ALA's Homecoming Spotlight: Ellen Chilemba, Class of 2010". African Leadership Academy. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  5. ^ Huntoon, Allyson (13 April 2017). "Ellen Chilemba '17 named Glamour College Woman of the Year". Mount Holyoke News. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d Foundation, Kofi Annan (8 March 2022). "Turning marginalised Malawians into passionate community leaders". Kofi Annan Foundation. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Raw passion inspires change in Malawi". Novation. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Programs at Tiwale". Tiwale. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  9. ^ "About Tiwale". Tiwale. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Chmba Chilemba". SEWF. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  11. ^ Peace, African (17 June 2023). "DJing for Madonna – How Malawi's Chmba made it big". African Peace Magazine. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Chmba on Apple Music – *Mtima Rising* (EP)". Apple Music. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Apple Music Announces Chmba As The Latest Isgubhu Cover Star". LAMag Africa. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  14. ^ Times, Malawiana (18 June 2023). "Songstress Chmba drops new EP 'Okongola Caucus'". Malawiana Times. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  15. ^ a b "Team". We Are Family Foundation. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Ashoka Future Forward Innovation Challenge Winners Named Forbes Africa's Top 30". Ashoka. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Ellen Chilemba from Malawi is the Young Person of the Month for August 2015". Opportunity Desk. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  18. ^ Marketing, ALA (30 August 2017). "ALA alumni Ellen Chilemba Wins Top Accolade and Grand Prize". African Leadership Academy. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  19. ^ Marketing, ALA (31 May 2017). "Ellen Chilemba is the 2017 Glamour Magazine College Woman of the Year". African Leadership Academy. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  20. ^ "Chmba Ellen Chilemba – Awardee". Prince Claus Fund. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.