If the current political climate has you wondering whether it makes sense to stay in the USA for good or find another place to put down roots, one African country might have just helped you solve the problem. In September 2024, the West African country of Benin made a major move towards trying to right some of its past wrongs by enacting a law that would make it ok to grant citizenship to the descendants of slaves.
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According to the law, adults over the age of 18, who don’t have citizenship in another African country, and who can prove they have African roots, can take advantage of the deal, provided they can provide proof with a DNA test or other legal documents.
Singer Ciara was one of the first celebs to take advantage of the offer, becoming a citizen of the country in late July of this year.
“By legally recognizing these children of Africa, Benin is healing a historical wound. It is an act of justice, but also one of belonging and hope,” Justice Minister Yvon Détchénou said at Ciara’s citizenship ceremony.
But Benin isn’t the first African country to welcome African Americans with open arms and Ciara isn’t the first celeb to make moves to make a connection to their roots. In 2020, rapper Ludacris got dual citizenship in Gabon, where his wife, Eudoxie Mbouguiengue, is from. Singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder celebrated his 74th birthday by officially becoming a citizen of Ghana in 2024.
Some are celebrating the fact that African nations are trying to repair relationships that were destroyed by slavery,
“[The] whole of Africa should open [the] door to black Americans including Caribbean. We should unite in open arms,” wrote someone on TikTok.
But others are skeptical that this is just a scheme to attract tourists and other financial investments in African nations.
“This is just to get money,” wrote another TikTok user.
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