The Band
It was only a few years ago that Liyana was born - as a class project. Even with the challenge of working in teams, in barely an hour, Liyana had produced four great tunes.
From the start they had a special knack for communicating musically through various subjects and musical styles, including gospel, reggae, and traditional Shona music.
These days, the band is fronted by Prudence Mabhena, a dynamic lead singer with a unique ability to communicate with audiences from all walks of life. Other members specialize in marimbas, African drums, shakers, keyboard, and piano. With lyrics in five different languages, Liyana's 'Afro-fusion' music is reflective of our interconnected world, where many find that our connections are greater than our divisions.
In 2006, LIYANA won the Crossroads Africa Inter-regional Music Festival in Mozambique and went on to tour Sweden, The Netherlands, and Belgium. In July, 2007 as featured performers at the Bulawayo Theatre, Liyana concluded with a new song Never Give Up, a title that is especially mzeaningful because it is the mantra learned at KGVI School that inspires them to this day.
The favorite place of the Liyana band members is San Francisco. Their favorite movie is La Dolce Vita.
Prudence Mabhena
Prudence Mabhena is Liyana's lead singer. She also composes in a wide range of styles and many topics. While challenges with Arthrogryphosis have placed her in a wheel chair, she is an independent, assertive woman, whose voice has been likened to the great South African liberation singer, Miriam Makeba.
Tapiwa Nyengera
Tapiwa Nyengera sings back-up, plays keyboard, and is the front man. He is a passionate and eloquent voice for the contribution the disabled can make to Africa and the world. He has spina bifida.
Energy Maburutse
Energy Maburutse is first marimba player and back-up vocalist and the band¹s resident jokester. He has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, brittle bone syndrome.
Honest Mupatse
Honest Mupatse plays tenor marimba. He has hemophilia. Prudence inspired him to love music. His favourite Liyana song is Sugar Rhythms.
Marvelous Mbulo
Marvelous Mbulo is a back-up singer. He has muscular dystrophy but can manage to do most things for himself if he is lifted in and out of his wheelchair.
Vusani Vuma
Vusani Vuma, the bass marimba player, is hearing-impaired and has spent much of his life in silence.
Goodwell Nzou
Goodwell Nzou, plays traditional drums and percussion and sings back-up. A snake bit him when he was 11, requiring amputation of his leg. He wants to study chemical engineering.
Farai Mabhande
Farai Mabhande, lead keyboardist, is an orphan from Bulawayo, who suffers from arthogryphisis.
