The R&B and pop star, known for global hits like Goodies and 1, 2 Step, was granted citizenship during a ceremonial event held in Cotonou, Benin’s largest city. Sharing her joy on Instagram, Ciara wrote, “I’m honoured… thank you Benin for opening your arms and your heart to me.”
Her citizenship comes through Benin’s My Afro Origins Law, a groundbreaking policy introduced in 2023 aimed at granting nationality to individuals who can trace their ancestry to Africans forcibly taken during the transatlantic slave trade. The move is part of a wider effort to strengthen cultural ties with the African diaspora and promote heritage tourism.
In an official statement following the ceremony, Benin’s government described the citizenship offer as more than a legal procedure—it is a symbolic act of healing and restoration.
“This act, which is symbolic, humane and historic, is not merely an administrative gesture. 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.”
Ciara is among the first high-profile global figures to benefit from the new law. Her participation signals a growing interest among African-descended celebrities in reconnecting with ancestral heritage.
Benin now joins countries like Ghana and Guinea-Bissau in offering formal citizenship pathways to the descendants of enslaved Africans. Applicants can initiate the process through a newly launched government website designed to streamline access for members of the African diaspora.
The country has also taken symbolic steps to elevate its visibility within African-American communities. Just last week, Benin named award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, as its official ambassadors to African-Americans in the United States.
Benin’s southern coast, historically known as the Slave Coast, played a central role in the transatlantic slave trade. Between 1580 and 1727, the Kingdom of Whydah—now part of Benin—was a major hub, with over one million Africans forcibly shipped to the Americas, including the U.S., Caribbean, and Brazil.
By offering citizenship and recognition to their descendants, Benin hopes to turn a painful past into a foundation for reconciliation, cultural exchange, and long-term connection with the global African community.