Chmba

Chmba Ellen Chilemba (born 25 March 1994), popularly known as Chmba, is a Malawian social entrepreneur, DJ, and music producer. 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.

Early life and education Chilemba was born in Blantyre, Malawi, and raised in Lilongwe. She graduated in 2010 from the African Leadership Academy in South Africa. She later attended Mount Holyoke College, earning a bachelor's degree in economics and studio art.

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. The organization was launched at a time when child marriage was still legal in Malawi.

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. The organization partners with Malawi’s Ministry of Health to deliver sexual health education and distribute sanitary products. During the COVID‑19 pandemic, Tiwale distributed over 26,000 masks and reached more than 20,000 youth through awareness campaigns. She has shared lineups with Angélique Kidjo, Nile Rodgers, Metro Boomin, and Laura Mvula. She featured in DJ Mag, BBC Radio, and was named ISGUBHU Artist of the Month by Apple Music. She signed to the music distribution platform Platoon.

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. In 2015, she was included in Forbes Africa’s “30 Under 30” list, received the Powell Exemplary Leader Award and she was a finalist in that years Commonwealth Youth Awards.

In 2016, she received the Humanitarian Award from the We Are Family Foundation. In 2017, she was named Glamour Magazine’s College Woman of the Year. 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. She became a Director of the Youth To The Front Fund at the We Are Family Foundation.