Ciara received citizenship from Benin under the new law for descendants of slaves

• Ciara became one of the first recipients of citizenship from Benin.
• The law grants citizenship to descendants of slaves, who can trace their connection to Africa.
• Benin is actively working on restoring ties with the African diaspora.

The citizenship in Benin was received by Ciara, becoming one of the first public figures to benefit from the new law, which grants citizenship to descendants of slaves. The ceremony took place in the city of Cotonou on July 29, 2025.

This step is part of Benin's initiative aimed at strengthening ties with the African diaspora and developing cultural tourism. The platform for submitting applications for citizenship was opened through the My Afro Origins platform, which accepts documents that confirm ancestral ties with individuals who were deported during the slave trade.

Along with the new law, the right to citizenship is granted to individuals over 18 years old, who can prove that their ancestors were taken from the sub-Saharan Africa. Benin, like many other countries such as Ghana, seeks to recognize its history and restore ties with Africans living beyond the continent.

Ciara expressed gratitude to Benin for "opening its arms and heart," noting that this act is symbolic and significant for her identity.

Benin has historically been an important center of the slave trade, and its recent program is part of the process of recognizing this history and attracting the African diaspora to memorial sites associated with this history.

Tags: Politics