Cotonou, Benin – Grammy Award-winning singer Ciara has officially been granted citizenship by the Republic of Benin, becoming one of the first global celebrities to benefit from the country’s new initiative aimed at reconnecting descendants of enslaved Africans with their ancestral homeland.
The citizenship ceremony was held in Cotonou, where Benin’s Minister of Justice, Yvon Détchénou, described the occasion as a powerful act of “justice, belonging, and hope.”
- Advertisement -
The program, established under legislation passed in September, offers citizenship to individuals over the age of 18 who can prove ancestral ties to sub-Saharan Africa through the transatlantic slave trade. Applicants must not hold citizenship in another African country and may submit DNA results, documented family histories, or sworn affidavits to qualify.
To support the initiative, Benin recently launched My Afro Origins, a digital application platform designed to streamline the citizenship process.
The move is part of a broader national effort to reckon with Benin’s role in the transatlantic slave trade and to build bridges with the global Black diaspora. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, an estimated 1.5 million Africans were taken from the region known as the Bight of Benin—which includes parts of modern-day Benin, Nigeria, and Togo—and sold into slavery, often with the cooperation of local rulers.
Benin has taken several steps over the years to confront its painful past. In the 1990s, it hosted international conferences to address its role in slavery. In 1999, then-President Mathieu Kérékou issued a rare formal apology to African Americans during a visit to a church in Baltimore, Maryland.
A key component of Benin’s outreach is “memorial tourism”, centered around remembrance and education. The coastal town of Ouidah, once a major slave port, now features solemn landmarks such as the Slave Route and the Door of No Return, commemorating the millions who were forcibly taken across the Atlantic.
Following her naturalization, Ciara visited these sites, retracing the steps of her ancestors along the Slave Route and passing through the Door of No Return. Reflecting on the experience, she said:
“Between emotion, reflection, and heritage, I experienced a profound return to what truly matters.”
Benin’s government hopes the program will encourage more members of the African diaspora to reclaim their heritage, explore their roots, and potentially make Benin their second home.
