Ciara Receives Benin Citizenship in Emotional Ceremony, Reconnects with African Roots

R&B star Ciara has deepened her ties to Africa after officially becoming a citizen of the Republic of Benin.

In a moving ceremony held Saturday, July 26, in the coastal city of Cotonou, the Grammy-winning singer was awarded a certificate of citizenship under Benin’s Afro-Descendant Citizenship Law—a groundbreaking initiative that offers citizenship to people who can trace their lineage to the transatlantic slave trade.

The law is part of a broader national effort to acknowledge Benin’s historical role in the slave trade, promote healing, and attract the global Black diaspora back to the continent.

“I feel incredibly proud. The significance of this moment is so special,” Ciara said as she received her certificate, visibly moved by the honor.

Following the ceremony, the Goodies hitmaker toured historical landmarks, including the Slave Route and the Door of No Return—sites that commemorate the pain and resilience of enslaved Africans.

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“Between emotion, reflection and heritage, I experienced a profound return to what truly matters,” Ciara shared.

Sindé Chekete, head of Benin’s state-run tourism agency, praised the singer’s visit and noted its importance: “It may inspire some people to say ‘I want to return to Africa and choose Benin to understand this history.’”

Ciara now joins a growing number of African-Americans and Afro-descendants reconnecting with their ancestral heritage in West Africa through citizenship and cultural return programs.

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