Ciara has officially become a citizen of Benin, making her one of the first public figures to gain citizenship through the West African country’s new law recognizing descendants of enslaved Africans.
According to The Washington Post, the Grammy-winning artist received her citizenship during a ceremony in Cotonou on Saturday, July 26, as part of Benin’s broader push to reconnect with the global Black diaspora and honor its 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 offers citizenship to individuals over 18 who do not already hold African nationality and can prove descent from the transatlantic slave trade.
The process accepts DNA results, family records, and verified testimonies. The newly launched digital platform, My Afro Origins, enables applicants to submit their materials for review.
Benin’s program carries deep significance due to its historical role in the slave trade. An estimated 1.5 million people were trafficked from the Bight of Benin region—comprising modern-day Benin, Togo, and parts of Nigeria—by European merchants. At the time, some Beninese kingdoms were complicit, capturing and selling slaves to Portuguese, French, and British traders.
Unlike other African countries, Benin has long acknowledged its part in the slave trade. In the 1990s, the country hosted a major international conference and, in 1999, then-President Mathieu Kérékou publicly apologized to African Americans during a visit to Baltimore.
To promote “memorial tourism,” Benin has preserved major landmarks like the Slave Route and the Door of No Return in Ouidah—sites that commemorate the final departure of enslaved Africans.
Ciara walked this route following her citizenship ceremony, describing the experience as one of “emotion, reflection, and heritage.”
During the ceremony, which also featured top Beninese officials, Ciara reportedly became emotional, expressing pride in reconnecting with her heritage.
Benin’s tourism office noted, “Benin is more than a destination. It is history, spirit, and sacred ground.”