Ciara Becomes Citizen of Benin Under Landmark Afro-Descendant Law

Two officials reviewing a document beside green and red flags
Status Ain't Hood Staff
August 4, 2025
Two officials reviewing a document beside green and red flags

Grammy-winning singer Ciara has officially become a citizen of Benin, marking a historic moment as one of the first public figures to receive citizenship under a new law aimed at reconnecting descendants of enslaved people with their ancestral roots. The ceremony took place Saturday in Cotonou, where Beninese officials welcomed her as part of a broader initiative to acknowledge the country’s role in the transatlantic slave trade and strengthen ties with the global Black diaspora.


The new law, passed in September 2023, offers citizenship to individuals over 18 who can prove their ancestry ties to the slave trade through DNA tests, family records, or authenticated testimonies. Benin launched a digital platform, My Afro Origins, to streamline applications and further engage Afro-descendants worldwide. “By legally recognizing these children of Africa, Benin is healing a historical wound,” said Justice Minister Yvon Détchénou during the event. “It is an act of justice, but also one of belonging and hope.”

Smiling woman in black and beige dress standing outdoors with red, yellow, and green flags behind her

Benin’s role in the transatlantic slave trade is well-documented. Historians estimate that around 1.5 million people were forcibly deported from the Bight of Benin — encompassing parts of present-day Benin, Nigeria, and Togo — by European merchants, often with the cooperation of local kings. While some African nations have avoided reckoning with their past involvement, Benin has taken a more proactive approach. It hosted a global conference in the 1990s on slavery and, in 1999, former President Mathieu Kérékou issued a formal apology to African Americans during a visit to the U.S.

Person with large afro, green “BENIN” T-shirt, and jeans sitting against a tiled wall

In recent years, Benin has leaned into “memorial tourism” as a way to promote healing and education. Historical sites in the coastal town of Ouidah, such as the Slave Route and the Door of No Return, serve as powerful reminders of the atrocities of slavery. According to Sindé Chekete, head of Benin’s tourism agency, these locations allow Afro-descendants to reconnect with their roots and honor the resilience of their ancestors. “It may inspire some people to say, ‘I want to return to Africa and choose Benin to understand this history,’” Chekete said.


Ciara, known for chart-topping songs like “Goodies” and “Level Up,” as well as her philanthropic efforts and fashion work, toured Ouidah following her citizenship ceremony. She walked the solemn Slave Route to the Door of No Return, describing the experience as “a profound return to what truly matters.” Her participation in Benin’s citizenship initiative is expected to raise global awareness of the country's efforts to reckon with its past and embrace a more inclusive future.


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