Zimbabwe: Paraplegic Band Tours Europe

 

Zimbabwe: Paraplegic Band Tours Europe

Zimbabwe Independent (Harare)

November 3, 2006
Posted to the web November 3, 2006

Itai Mushekwe

AN eight-member paraplegic musical outfit, Liyana has defied their physical challenges and turned them into triumph following the group's recent tour of Europe.

The little known eight-member band from Bulawayo that specialises in afro beats combined with marimba and keyboards, emerged second at the Music Crossroads Southern Africa Maputo Inter Regional finals held in April.

Liyana returned a fortnight ago from a month-long European tour that took them to Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands.

According to Music Crossroads Southern Africa Zimbabwe chapter, media consultant, Martin Chemhere, the group's tour enabled them to establish strong links with festival organisers and world music promoters, a development that will see the gifted outfit returning to Europe next year for more shows.

Chemhere said Liyana had done Zimbabwe proud by acting as an arts ambassador during their tour, while marketing the country's musical products.

"Liyana did Zimbabwe proud by spreading our musical influence into Europe and they indeed need our support," said Chemhere.

"Without seeing them performing on stage and by listening to their music alone you can't tell that they're handicapped. This group has a bright future."

All the group members of Liyana are physically challenged, five of them on wheel chairs, two on crutches and the other one is deaf. Prudence Mabhena leads the outfit. Liyana members are all students of the King George VI Memorial School in Bulawayo.

Meanwhile Music Crossroads Southern Africa Zimbabwe chapter yesterday kick started its provincial festival campaigns for Harare and Chitungwiza in which more than 30 groups are expected to participate.

The Music Crossroads programme aims to increase the level of professionalism of musicians who usually have few learning opportunities and acts as a platform to help launch their musical careers.

Music Crossroads Southern Africa is a regional youth music empowerment project that has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1996. Other chapters are in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia.

Liyana on tour!

October 9th 2006

LIYANA is a prize winning band from Zimbabwe of the Music Crossroads Southern Africa Interregional Festival 2006. The group members study in the “The King George VI” school in Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), an institution for physically handicapped children and youngsters between 4-19 years of age. MCSA Zimbabwe is in charge of the music education in the school, where arts education plays an important role in the empowerment of young people, promoting their potential and self-esteem.

The LIYANA Tour comprises Sweden , Netherlands and French/Flemish Belgium and ends with a final concert in 'Théâtre Molière' in Brussels on 14th October at 20.00: don't miss out!
The superb voice of Prudence Mabhena, leader of the band, has been compared to Miriam Makeba’s. Accompanied by 3 marimbas, percussion and keyboard the band plays their own songs, carrying a message of sincerity and hope.

LIYANA : Prudence Mabhena (lead vocal), Marvelous Mbulo (vocal), Tapiwa Nyengera (keyboard and backing vocals), Energy Maburutse (first marimba, backing vocals, ), Honest Mupatse (tenor marimba), Vusani Vuma (bass marimba), Goodwell Nzou (percussions, backing vocals)