CURRENTLY studying towards an Honours degree in Music, Music Business, Musicology and Technology with the Midlands State University, Nelly Lyon is an aspiring musician, singer and songwriter. She also does song covers and shares these on her social media platforms.
Born Banele Sibanda at Matopo and currently based in Bulawayo, Nelly’s interest in the creative industry can be traced back to her years when she was at Sizane high school where she used to be part of the school choir. Her love for music led her to one of the noteworthy breakthroughs in her career.
She is currently working on her single in the Afro pop genre, a project she looks forward to release anytime soon.
Remarkably, she took part in the StarBrite national talent competition in 2019 where she emerged as the second runner up. She is highly encouraged to focus on her art by the cheers she receives from people when she sings.
Nelly has showcased her talent on several occasions in and around Bulawayo, on events that include birthdays, weddings and church services.
“I enjoy stage performance, seeing people’s reactions when I sing on stage is what touches me the most and knowing that I can change someone’s emotional state for the better gives me life”, she says.
Banele is a super creative star who was born with a physical disability, one of her legs is shorter than the other. She can walk however limited distances. Banele also has stunted growth. She is thankful for growing up in an environment where people are slowly but surely starting to understand disability.
“I can really testify that I faced discrimination partly because people do not understand that the disabled have their own abilities. If disability was equal to inability I wouldn’t be where I am”, she adds.
She mentions the overwhelming love from her family and friends who have always been there for her through it all and this is what keeps her going. Banele appreciates herself for who and how she is.
“I have learnt to love myself the way that I am”, says the enthusiastic go-getter.
Nelly believes, and aptly so, that she is just different from the next person in her physical appearance but that does not mean she is unable to pursue what she delights in doing. She ephasises that surely disability is not equal to inability and that the ‘disability’ word itself makes it seem as if the person cannot even do anything meaningful in life, and this is not true especially looking at how she and others who are in the creative industry are so passionate and committed to chase their art.
She mentions some of the challenges she faces as a creative with a disability.
“When I perform around with some of my friends, I sometimes have to walk long distances especially around town and these get me tired quickly”.
She says that as an aspiring artist she has financial challenges that prohibit her from recording music as these sessions are costly, especially considering that she is still a student and does not have enough cashflow to support her art.
