US Singer Ciara Granted Benin Citizenship Under Historic Law Honoring Descendants of Enslaved Africans

Grammy-winning singer Ciara has officially become a citizen of Benin, making her one of the first global public figures to receive citizenship under a groundbreaking new law that honors descendants of enslaved Africans. The law, enacted in September 2023, aims to reconnect the West African nation with its diaspora and address its historical role in the transatlantic slave trade.

Ciara received her citizenship during a special ceremony in Cotonou, attended by officials including Justice Minister Yvon Dtchnou, who declared, “By legally recognising these children of Africa, Benin is healing a historical wound.”

The new legislation allows people over the age of 18 who can prove their descent from enslaved Africans — through DNA, documented family history, or verified testimonies — to claim Beninese citizenship, provided they are not already African citizens. Benin has also introduced an online portal, My Afro Origins, to streamline the application process.

Once a major hub in the slave trade, Benin has been transparent in acknowledging its past. In the 1990s, the country hosted an international conference on slavery, and in 1999, then-President Mathieu Kérékou issued a formal apology to African Americans.

After receiving her citizenship, Ciara visited key historical sites in Ouidah, including the Slave Route and the Door of No Return. Reflecting on the experience, she said, “Between emotion, reflection, and heritage, I felt a deep return to what counts.”