Ben Mussanzi wa Mussangu is renowned for his healing laughter. You will know that Ben is around if you hear somebody laughing like an angel. He doesn’t follow the rules of broadcasting in this matter. He is known as Papa Ben or Big Ben of the 3Bs – Bukiringi, Bunia & Bradford. Bukiringi and Bunia are areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Ben learnt his gift of laughter through his experiences as a survivor of the DR Congo war, where he was nearly killed. Later he co-founded Centre Resolution Conflits – the Centre For The Resolution Of Conflict (CRC).
Threatened with death, Ben and family fled to save their lives and have settled in the UK where in 2006 they set up the Bradford-based UK version of Centre Resolution Conflits. Passionate about conflict resolution, peace building and community cohesion, Ben is producer and presenter of the Peace Music radio show on BCB radio. He uses music as a tool to pass peace messages to Bradford, the UK and the world.
Ben works also for Sharing Voices Bradford where he is responsible for the spiritual and emotional support programme at the Asylum Seekers & Refugees Unit.