Ciara Becomes Citizen of Benin in Landmark Diaspora Initiative
Aug 1st, 2025 – Jamaica Live | Entertainment News
Benin opens its arms to descendants of enslaved Africans under the landmark My Afro Origins Law
American music superstar Ciara has become one of the first public figures to receive citizenship from the Republic of Benin, a symbolic and historic act under the West African nation’s new law aimed at reconnecting the African diaspora with their ancestral roots.
The move comes under the My Afro Origins Law, passed last year, which offers citizenship to descendants of enslaved Africans taken from the continent during the brutal transatlantic slave trade. The initiative is designed to not only recognize a painful past but also to welcome home those whose ancestors were torn from their homeland centuries ago.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Ciara shared her gratitude:
“I’m honoured. Thank you Benin for opening your arms and your heart to me.”
“A Gesture of the Soul”
The government of Benin emphasized that this law is far more than a legal formality.
“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,” read a statement following the naturalization ceremony.
Applicants who can trace an ancestor taken in the slave trade can now apply for citizenship through a newly launched government website.
Spike Lee Appointed Cultural Ambassador
Just days before Ciara’s announcement, renowned American filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife Tonya Lewis Lee were appointed as Benin’s official ambassadors to African-Americans in the United States. The couple’s new role will focus on strengthening ties between Benin and the African-American community, highlighting shared heritage, cultural exchange, and tourism.
Benin: A Land of Pain and Return
Benin’s southern coast was once part of the infamous Slave Coast, home to major slave ports including Whydah, a kingdom that served as a departure point for over a million enslaved Africans between 1580 and 1727. Many of these individuals were shipped to the United States, the Caribbean, and Brazil, contributing to the vast African diaspora across the Americas.
Today, Benin is transforming its history of exploitation into a future of reconnection and reconciliation
