Ciara Describes Citizenship in Benin as “A Profound Return to What Truly Matters”

Singer Ciara officially became a citizen of the Republic of Benin on July 26, 2025 during a moving ceremony held in Cotonou to commemorate the United Nations International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent.

She is among the first public figures granted nationality under Benin’s newly enacted Afro-descendant citizenship law. The legislation, which took effect in September 2024, allows individuals over the age of 18—who do not already hold another African nationality and can verify ancestral ties to those deported from West Africa during the transatlantic slave trade—to obtain Beninese citizenship. Proof of ancestry can be submitted through DNA testing, authenticated family testimonies, or historical records.

At the event, Ciara was welcomed by senior government officials, including the Minister of Justice, Yvon Détchénou, who described the initiative as “an act of justice, but also one of belonging and hope,” as part of the country’s broader efforts to heal historical wounds.

Benin has adopted an approach known as “memorial tourism,” centered around historic sites in Ouidah such as the Slave Route and the Door of No Return. These landmarks commemorate the tragic journeys enslaved people were forced to take to the Atlantic. Tourism authorities hope these sites will foster reconnection for members of the African diaspora and promote cultural heritage.

Following the ceremony, Ciara visited key historical sites in Ouidah, walking the Slave Route and standing at the Door of No Return. She described the experience as deeply emotional, calling it “a profound return to what truly matters.”