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4d ago

Benin Opens Citizenship Path for Slave Descendants; Singer Ciara Among First

The My Afro Origins platform is now live to process citizenship claims as part of Benin’s broader effort to confront its slave-trade past.

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Ciara travelled to Benin to receive citizenship and toured Ouidah, one of Africa’s most active slave-trading ports in the 18th and 19th centuries

Overview

  • Under the 2023 law, adults over 18 without another African nationality can apply for Beninese citizenship by proving descent from enslaved Africans through DNA tests, authenticated testimonies or family records.
  • On July 26, U.S. singer Ciara became one of the first public figures to receive citizenship at a ceremony in Cotonou and retraced her ancestors’ journey along the Slave Route to the Door of No Return.
  • Justice Minister Yvon Détchénou said legal recognition of slave descendants heals a historical wound and provides an act of justice, belonging and hope.
  • Launched in mid-July, the My Afro Origins digital portal allows applicants to submit evidence online and monitor their citizenship requests.
  • Benin is expanding memorial tourism in Ouidah and Cotonou with sites like the Slave Route and Door of No Return to educate visitors and strengthen ties with the global Black diaspora.