Across centuries of separation, the desire for reconnection has never faded. In Benin, that desire now has a pathway forward that honors ancestry, restores dignity, and creates a bridge between the past and the present.
In September 2024, Benin passed a significant law granting citizenship to individuals of sub-Saharan African descent whose ancestors were taken during the transatlantic slave trade. While the law was established in 2024, applications officially became available in July 2025 when the government launched the My Afro Origins platform. This development marked the beginning of a new chapter for members of the global African diaspora seeking reconnection.
The pathway is available to those who meet the following criteria:
Applicants must be at least 18 years old
Applicants cannot already hold citizenship in another African country
Applicants must provide proof that an ancestor was taken during the transatlantic slave trade
Evidence may include DNA results, authenticated oral or written family histories, or official records. Benin respects the many ways that heritage can be traced and values the testimonies carried across generations.
Once eligibility is confirmed, applicants receive a provisional nationality certificate that remains valid for three years. Within that period, they are required to travel to Benin at least once to complete the process. After this step is fulfilled, full citizenship is granted.
The process combines modern tools with cultural reconnection, offering a structured pathway for those who seek to reclaim ties with ancestral lands.
Benin plays an important role in the history of the transatlantic slave trade. The port of Ouidah served as a major departure point for millions of Africans who were taken from their homelands. This pathway to citizenship acknowledges that history and creates an opportunity to begin repairing its impact.
Visitors can engage with significant memorial sites such as the Slave Route, the Tree of Forgetfulness, and the Door of No Return. These spaces hold powerful meaning and allow descendants to honor the memory of those who endured unimaginable loss.
On July 26, 2025, Grammy Award-winning singer Ciara became one of the first people to receive Beninese citizenship under this law. During the ceremony in Cotonou, she described the experience as emotional and deeply significant, paying tribute to the ancestors whose strength made her journey possible. Her visit included walking the Slave Route and standing before the Door of No Return, turning places of historical sorrow into spaces of restoration.
Across the globe, other members of the African diaspora are also beginning this journey. In Brazil, an Afro-Brazilian chef traced his family lineage to Benin and began the application process. For him, citizenship represents affirmation, belonging, and a renewed connection to his ancestral heritage.
This pathway symbolizes a turning point. It recognizes history while opening doors to new possibilities for identity and belonging. For descendants of those taken from African shores, it offers a chance to walk on the same land, reclaim lost connections, and participate in the future of a nation linked by shared memory.
