Ciara has officially become a citizen of Benin, joining a small group of public figures granted citizenship under the West African nation’s new law recognizing descendants of enslaved Africans.
As reported by The Washington Post, the Grammy-winning singer was honored with her citizenship during a ceremony in Cotonou on Saturday, July 26. The milestone is part of Benin’s larger effort to reconnect with the global Black diaspora and acknowledge its historic role in the transatlantic slave trade.
“By legally recognizing these children of Africa, Benin is healing a historical wound,” said Justice Minister Yvon Détchénou. “It is an act of justice, but also one of belonging and hope.”
Passed in September 2023, Benin’s Afro-descendant citizenship law grants citizenship to individuals over 18 who don’t already hold African nationality and can prove their descent from the transatlantic slave trade.
Applicants can submit DNA results, family records, or verified testimonies through a new digital platform called My Afro Origins.
Benin’s program carries profound meaning because of the country’s pivotal role in the slave trade. Historians estimate that about 1.5 million people were trafficked from the Bight of Benin region—which includes present-day Benin, Togo, and parts of Nigeria—by European merchants. At the time, some Beninese kingdoms participated by capturing and selling enslaved people to Portuguese, French, and British traders.
Unlike many other African nations, Benin has long acknowledged its role in the transatlantic slave trade. The country hosted a major international conference in the 1990s and, in 1999, then-President Mathieu Kérékou formally apologized to African Americans during a visit to Baltimore.
To support “memorial tourism,” Benin has preserved significant historical landmarks such as the Slave Route and the Door of No Return in Ouidah, which commemorate the final departure of enslaved Africans.
Ciara walked this historic route following her citizenship ceremony, calling the experience one of “emotion, reflection, and heritage.”
During the ceremony, attended by top Beninese officials, Ciara reportedly became emotional as she expressed pride in reconnecting with her ancestral roots.
Benin’s tourism office summed up the significance perfectly: “Benin is more than a destination. It is history, spirit, and sacred ground.”
