Prudence Mabhena

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