Grammy award-winning American singer Ciara has become one of the first prominent public figures to be granted citizenship of Benin under a groundbreaking new law that offers nationality to descendants of enslaved Africans.
The 38-year-old R&B and pop star, celebrated for hits such as Goodies and 1,2 Step, received her citizenship during a formal ceremony in Cotonou, the country’s largest city. In an emotional Instagram post following the event, Ciara said she was “honoured” and expressed gratitude to the nation, writing, “Thank you Benin for opening your arms and your heart to me.”
The move follows the implementation of the My Afro Origins Law, passed last year by Benin’s government to reconnect with the African diaspora and foster cultural and historical ties. The initiative aims to offer a symbolic and emotional return to individuals whose ancestors were forcibly taken from the region during the transatlantic slave trade.
“This act, which is symbolic, humane and historic, is not merely an administrative gesture,” said the Beninese government in a statement. “It is a gesture of the soul, a return to one’s roots, a hand extended to those whom history, in its brutality, had torn from this land.”
Benin’s coastline, formerly known as the Slave Coast, was a major departure point for enslaved Africans shipped to the Americas. From 1580 to 1727, the Kingdom of Whydah located on Benin’s coast exported more than a million Africans to destinations including the US, the Caribbean, and Brazil.
In addition to Ciara’s citizenship, Benin recently appointed famed American filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, as ambassadors for African-Americans in the US. The initiative aims to promote reconnection, heritage tourism, and cultural exchange.
Eligible descendants of enslaved Africans can apply for Beninese citizenship through a dedicated online portal launched as part of the new law.
Ciara’s citizenship marks a significant milestone in the nation’s efforts to acknowledge its past while building meaningful bridges with the global African diaspora.
