Ciara has obtained Beninese nationality. The American singer is one of the first people to receive Beninese citizenship under the new law that the West African country adopted last year. “History was made on July 26,” she writes on Instagram.
Ciara says she will not soon forget the moment President Patrice Talon and the people of Benin welcomed her. “Thank you, Benin, for opening your arms and hearts to me,” writes the 39-year-old singer.
Along with two other people, Ciara, known for 1, 2 Step and Goodies, was the first to receive citizenship under the new law. During a ceremony, the passports were presented by President Talon, Minister of Justice Yvon Détchénou, and the Beninese Tourist Office.
“By legally recognizing these children of Africa, Benin is healing historical wounds,” said the Minister of Justice. “This ceremony obliges us all to face, share, repair, and transcend history.”
In September last year, Benin passed a law granting citizenship to descendants of enslaved people. Anyone who is eighteen years or older, does not have a passport from another African country, and can prove through DNA tests that their ancestors came from Sub-Saharan Africa can apply.
Ciara is not the first black American artist to have started a search for her roots in Africa. Rapper Ludacris took on Gabonese citizenship in 2020, and singer Stevie Wonder received the Ghanaian passport last year.
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