American famous singer Ciara received citizenship from the West African country of Benin. This was granted to her under the new "Afro Roots" law. This law provides descendants of those displaced due to the Atlantic slave trade the right to obtain citizenship.
Ciara wrote on Instagram: "Benin, thank you for embracing me. This is an honor for me."
Ciara, known for hit songs like "Goodies" and "1, 2 Step" in the pop genre, received her citizenship during an official ceremony in the capital city of Cotonou.
The Beninese government described this step as a "spiritual and historical move, a return to roots."
Through this law, Benin aims to strengthen ties with African descendants worldwide and promote cultural tourism. Last week, director Spike Lee and his spouse were appointed as the country's ambassadors to the U.S.
Historically, Benin's coast was known as the "Slave Coast"—during the 18th century, over a million African slaves were taken from there to the U.S., the Caribbean, and Brazil.
