Benin is extending a historic invitation to the African diaspora with its “My Afro Origins” citizenship program, a key part of President Patrice Talon’s plan to raise the country’s global profile by highlighting its history in the transatlantic slave trade.
The initiative, promoted by ambassadors like filmmaker Spike Lee, offers a path to citizenship for people who can prove their continental roots through documents or DNA tests.
The program has already attracted thousands of applicants, with about 50 people, including R&B star Ciara, receiving citizenship so far.
For new citizens like Isaline Attelly, a 28-year-old from Martinique who discovered her great-grandmother was trafficked from Benin, it represents a “full circle” journey.
This effort coincides with the development of new historical sites, including a slavery museum and a “Door of No Return” memorial, as Benin seeks to strengthen ties with its diaspora, which Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari says is essential for Africa’s development.
