Prudence Mabhena
{{short description|Zimbabwean singer}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Prudence Mabhena
|image =
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|background = solo_singer
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|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1986|2|23}}
|birth_place = Zimbabwe
|death_place =
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|instrument =
|occupation = Singer
|genre = Afro-Fusion
|years_active =
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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.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfbayview.com/2010/oscar-nomination-for-%E2%80%98music-by-prudence%E2%80%99-about-disabled-zimbabwean-singer-prudence-mabhena/|title=Oscar nomination for 'Music by Prudence' about disabled Zimbabwean singer Prudence Mabhena|date=5 March 2010|publisher=San Francisco BayView|accessdate=21 March 2010}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2010/05/11/126673833/prudence-mabhena-out-of-struggle-a-soaring-voice|title=Prudence Mabhena: Out Of Struggle, A Soaring Voice|last=|first=|date=May 11, 2010|website=NPR|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}{{Cite web|url=http://bulawayo24.com/index-id-opinion-sc-blogs-byo-38906.html|title=The Oscar that Prudence Mabhena never won|last=Mazara|first=Garikai|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newzimbabwe.com/showbiz-22608-Prudence+Mabhena+named+SA+ambassador/showbiz.aspx|title=Oscar-winning Prudence Mabhena appointed ambassador for SA's Casual Day|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}
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.{{cite web |title=2018 Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards Announced |url=https://www.viscardicenter.org/2018-henry-viscardi-achievement-awards-announced/ |access-date=2018-12-25 |archive-date=2022-03-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325010514/https://www.viscardicenter.org/2018-henry-viscardi-achievement-awards-announced/ |url-status=dead }}
References
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Category:21st-century Zimbabwean women singers
Category:People with congenital disorders of musculoskeletal system
Category:Zimbabwean people with disabilities