B. 1967

Born in Lusaka, Zambia, in 1967, Mulenga Chafilwa holds an Art Teacher’s Diploma from the Evelyn Hone College, Lusaka (1993).

Since he began painting professionally in 1991, Chafilwa has participated in many solo and group exhibitions in Zambia and internationally, including Mbile in Zambia and Braziers artists International in the United Kingdom, and his painting has won several awards.

His work is largely figurative and focuses on social commentary. Chafilwa is fascinated by city dwellers going about their usual business. In many of his paintings, you will see that he likes to contrast the every day breadwinner on the street with high-rise buildings in the background representing corporate spaces housing the educated and wealthy few.

Chafilwa works in mixed media where he uses acrylic paint, artists’ charcoal, pastels and sometimes drawing ink.

He was a previous member of the Lechwe Trust Advisory Committee and is a current member of the Zambia National Visual Arts Council, having served as its chairman twice. He has also been instrumental in the Imiti Ikula (upcoming artists) weekend workshops at the Henry Tayali Art Center in Lusaka. Chafilwa lives and works as a full-time artist in Lusaka where he runs an annual workshop for young artists called August Studios.