A BRADFORD woman has spoken of a journey filled with both nostalgia and reflection after she returned to the city she was born in – 20 years after leaving there as a refugee.
Furaha Mussanzi, 31, visited Bunia, eastern Congo, two decades after her family fled war and found safety in Bradford.
Furaha – a pastoral care leader at The Light Church – met family she had not seen since leaving, and also documented her trip in a travel vlog.
Bunia, which is home to almost a million people, saw heavy conflict during the Second Congo War.
“I was fearful of reliving old trauma and the pain of the past resurfacing,” said Furaha.
“But I had to face that. I had to grieve the past, but also celebrate who I’ve become.
“A lot of my family have died, but the fact I could see some again on my visit was a blessing.”
Furaha left Congo with her family as a 10-year-old. Since then, she has had to balance multiple identities.
“During my trip, I felt like a stranger at times,” she said.
“It was like going down memory lane, but not knowing everything. Bunia has been developed and it’s different now. I felt like I was at home, but not at home.
“But I felt privileged to be able to fall back in love with Congo and build new memories.”
Emotions ran high during her visit – Furaha cried a lot when she saw her family.
“They were tears of joy, though – I was elated,” she added.
“A lot happens in 20 years – I have cousins, nieces and nephews I’d never met.
“I also remembered things I’d forgotten which had lied dormant. No one tells you how traumatic it is to uproot and flee.”
Despite having to face a tough past head-on, Furaha wanted her vlog to make for positive viewing.
“There are many one-sided stories of violence in Congo, but I wanted to show a normal side,” she said.
“At the same time, the media doesn’t always talk about what happens there – a lot of resources in Congo, like coltan, get mined illegally.
“We’re part of the problem. A solution can be as simple as not getting the new iPhone every time one comes out, and knowing how our actions can have a reaction.”
Ultimately, Furaha’s journey has helped her to heal.
“I was carrying a lot of heaviness, but now I feel as light as a feather”, she said.
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