Benin has launched a citizenship programme targeting people of African descent across the world, as the West African country seeks to deepen ties with the global diaspora and leverage heritage as a driver of tourism and cultural diplomacy. The initiative, known as “My Afro Origins,” allows eligible applicants to acquire Beninese citizenship by proving ancestral links to sub-Saharan Africa through historical records or DNA evidence, the government said, according to Reuters.
The programme forms part of President Patrice Talon’s broader strategy to reposition Benin as a centre for memory tourism linked to the transatlantic slave trade. Authorities are backing the initiative with investments in heritage infrastructure, including a new memorial complex in the coastal city of Ouidah and plans for an international museum dedicated to the history of slavery, as outlined by officials cited by TimesLive. Government figures indicate that dozens of applicants have already been approved since the scheme was introduced, with interest continuing to rise.
High-profile cultural figures are helping to promote the citizenship drive. U.S. filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, have been appointed as ambassadors to the African American community, encouraging people of African descent to reconnect with their roots, according to statements referenced by Reuters and earlier interviews carried by France 24. International music star Ciara is also among the notable early recipients of Beninese citizenship, having taken part in cultural events linked to the initiative.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, must not already hold citizenship of another African country and must meet ancestry verification requirements, Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari said, according to Reuters. Benin’s move mirrors similar diaspora engagement policies adopted elsewhere on the continent, reflecting a growing push by African governments to convert historical reconnection into long-term cultural and economic partnerships.
