Benin has launched a citizenship programme aimed at people of African descent, positioning it as part of a broader effort to elevate the country’s global profile by confronting and memorialising its role in the transatlantic slave trade.
The initiative, known as My Afro Origins, has already attracted thousands of applications, with around 50 approvals granted so far.
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The programme has been rolled out alongside heritage projects in Ouidah, a historic slave departure point, including a new “Door of No Return,” a replica slave ship installation, and plans for an International Museum of Memory and Slavery.
The government says these efforts are intended to preserve history while encouraging tourism and reconnection with the diaspora.
To amplify the initiative, Benin has appointed acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, Tonya Lee Lewis, as ambassadors to the African-American community. U.S. singer Ciara became one of the first high-profile recipients of Beninese citizenship in 2025, underscoring the programme’s global reach.
Officials say the goal is to strengthen ties with the diaspora, arguing that Africa’s development is closely linked to the engagement of its descendants worldwide.
