Prudence Mabhena Explained

Prudence Mabhena
Background:	solo_singer
Birth Date:	1986 2, df=yes
Birth Place:	Zimbabwe
Occupation:	Singer
Genre:	Afro-Fusion

Prudence Mabhena is a Zimbabwean singer. Prudence Mabhena was born with Arthrogryposis, and was severely disabled. The society she was born into considers disabilities to carry the taint of witchcraft.^[1] Because of this, she was abandoned by her family. As a result, she was raised by her maternal grandmother who sang to her while working on her farm. She later attended King George VI School for the disabled in Bulawayo.^{[2] [3]}

Musical career

While at school she discovered a love for music and performing, and founded the band Liyana with seven other disabled students and was made up of:

• Prudence Mabhena – singer and composer (suffers from arthrogryposis)
• Tapiwa Nyengera – back-up singer, keyboard, front man (has spina bifida)
• Energy Maburutse – first marimba player, back-up vocalist (suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, brittle bone syndrome)
• Honest Mupatse – tenor marimba player (has hemophilia)
• Marvelous Mbulo – back-up singer (has muscular dystrophy)
• Vusani Vuma – bass marimba player (is hearing-impaired)
• Goodwell Nzou – traditional drums and percussion, back-up singer (leg amputated)
• Farai Mabhande – lead keyboardist (suffers from arthrogryposis)

The band tried to overcome stereotypes and inspire the same people that once saw them as a curse. Her story was later turned into the film Music by Prudence, which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 82nd Academy Awards.^[4]

Music by Prudence also won:

• the Audience Award for Best Documentary Short at the Florida Film Festival
• Best Short at the Africa World Documentary Film Festival
• Best Short at the DocuWest Film Festival.

Awards

Apart from music awards, she also received the 2018 Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards given to leaders in disability sector.^[5]

Notes and References

1. News: Oscar nomination for 'Music by Prudence' about disabled Zimbabwean singer Prudence Mabhena. 5 March 2010. San Francisco BayView. 21 March 2010.
2. Web site: Prudence Mabhena: Out Of Struggle, A Soaring Voice. May 11, 2010. NPR.
3. Web site: The Oscar that Prudence Mabhena never won. Mazara. Garikai.
4. Web site: Oscar-winning Prudence Mabhena appointed ambassador for SA's Casual Day.
5. Web site: 2018 Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards Announced . 2018-12-25 . 2022-03-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220325010514/https://www.viscardicenter.org/2018-henry-viscardi-achievement-awards-announced/ . dead .