Award-winning singer, songwriter, and dancer @ciara has embarked on a powerful journey of reconnection. After tracing her DNA, she discovered that her ancestry links back to Benin, West Africa. Embracing her roots, she traveled to the capital city of Cotonou, where she was warmly welcomed by local officials and community members.
In a moving ceremony, Ciara was granted Beninese citizenship, symbolizing not just a personal homecoming, but a deeper message of unity, identity, and belonging for the African diaspora.
Benin recently launched a citizenship program for those in the diaspora who can trace their DNA to the country—following in the footsteps of Ghana’s historic “Year of Return” campaign. Filmmaker Spike Lee was recently named an ambassador of this initiative, amplifying the call for reconnection.
