American singer Ciara has become one of the first well known personalities to receive citizenship from Benin under a new law offering nationality to descendants of enslaved Africans.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, the Grammy winning artist expressed that she was “honoured,” adding, “thank you Benin for opening your arms and your heart to me.”
The citizenship initiative is part of a broader effort by the West African nation to strengthen connections with the African diaspora and promote cultural tourism.
Ciara, famous for her R&B and pop hits like Goodies and 1,2 Step, officially received her citizenship during a ceremony held in the city of Cotonou.
“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,” the Beninese government said in a statement issued after the event.
By passing the My Afro Origins Law last year, Benin joined countries such as Ghana and Guinea Bissau in granting citizenship to individuals with ancestral ties to those taken during the transatlantic slave trade.
