American singer Ciara receives Benin citizenship after tracing ancestral roots
Read more | WATCH | Ciara reveals her new baby boy
On July 26, 2025, a day recognised globally as the United Nations Day for Women and Girls of African Descendent, Ciara received her certificate of citizenship in a symbolic ceremony attended by several Beninese government officials, including the Minister of Justice and Legislation, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts, and Minister of Foreign Affairs at the initiative of RollingStone Africa.
Ciara's citizenship is part of a broader movement among Black Americans reconnecting with their African heritage, such as Ludacris, the Atlanta-based rapper and actor who obtained Gabonese citizenship in 2020 through his wife, Eudoxie Mbouguiengue, who hails from Gabon.
Steve Wonder, the legendary musician, was also granted Ghanaian citizenship in 2021 and many others.
Tour agency Explore Benin, which assisted and documented Ciara's trip, posted about her journey to significant locations including Ouidah and Cotonou.
Ouidah is home to the historic Slave Route trail and Door of No Return.
'Ciara walks the land of her ancestors for the first time,' the agency posted.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Explore Benin (@explore.benin)
'I feel incredibly proud,' said the 39-year-old singer emotionally during her ceremony in a video she posted on her Instagram account.
'The significance of this moment is so special,' she added.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Ciara (@ciara)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
6 hours ago
- Associated Press
Photos of Benin's traditional mask festival as ancient customs come alive
PORTO NOVO, Benin (AP) — A traditional mask festival in Porto Novo, Benin, showcases the country's unique face masks and full-body costumes, that are tied to ancient customs and traditions. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dua Lipa ‘feeling grateful' after being awarded Kosovo citizenship
Singer Dua Lipa has said she is 'feeling grateful' after being awarded citizenship of Kosovo by the country's president. The 29-year-old was born in London to Kosovo-Albanian parents, Anesa and Dukagjin Lipa, and moved to the country's capital of Pristina aged 11, when her family returned after Kosovo gained its independence in 2008, before moving back to London aged 15. In a post on Instagram, Lipa said: 'Feeling so grateful to have been awarded my Kosovan citizenship by our president @vjosaosmani.' Kosovo's president, Vjosa Osmani, posted a picture of herself presenting a certificate of citizenship to the Houdini singer with a caption saying 'welcome home Dua'. She added: 'Special honour that today, by presidential decree, to grant citizenship of the Republic of Kosovo to Dua Lipa, one of the most important cultural and artistic personalities in the history of our country. 'Dua and Kosovo have always been inseparable. She has been and continues to be one of the most powerful voices on the world's biggest stages, making history with her achievements and becoming an inspiration to millions of people around the globe. 'Our gratitude is endless for all that Dua has done and continues to do for Kosovo, for our youth, for our art and for the international image of our country. 'Dua, Kosovo is always proud of you.' At her initiation ceremony, Lipa was welcomed by a group of children dressed in white singing her 2020 UK hit single Levitating. It comes after the singer appeared at the country's Sunny Hill Festival, which she created in 2018, on Friday, where she performed the song Era with her father in Albanian. She said of the performance in a post on X: 'Sharing this night with you all, in the city that shaped me, surrounded by so much energy, joy, and pride… it's hard to put into words what it means. 'Performing for you, and sharing the stage with my dad @dukagjinlipa was a moment I'll never forget. 'I feel so incredibly lucky and grateful, and we still have two more nights to celebrate together.' In November 2022, the singer was granted Albanian citizenship by its president Bajram Begaj. Since beginning her career in 2013, Lipa has had four UK number one singles and two UK number one albums, she is best known for songs such as Training Season, New Rules and One Kiss, which she recorded with DJ Calvin Harris.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Dua Lipa made a citizen of Kosovo
Dua Lipa has been awarded Kosovo citizenship. The Levitating singer was born in London to Kosovar Albanian parents and was serenaded by a children's choir as she received the honour from Kosovar president Vjosa Osmani on Thursday (31.07.25). The politician posted on social media platform X: "Welcome back home, Dua. "Dua and Kosovo have always been inseparable. From the world's biggest stages to the hearts of millions, she's carried our story with strength, pride and grace. She's pushed boundaries, made history, and reminded the world that greatness begins with knowing who you are and where you come from." The 29-year-old pop star previously had Albanian citizenship granted in 2022 - with the country's president Bajram Begaj describing her as a "simple girl" who has given "great pride" to the nation. He said at the ceremony: "It is a special pleasure to welcome the great artist Dua Lipa today. I say great artist, but she is also a simple girl, who has given the greatest pride to us, Albania, Kosovo and wherever there are Albanians in the world. Albanian youth is an example and a source of inspiration for you and you have shown that dreams can be achieved by working harder. Tomorrow we celebrate the 110th anniversary of the declaration of independence and today the joint meeting of the Assembly of Albania and the Assembly of Kosovo took place. "Although art is not related to politics, it brings all people together and with your art, you have brought us together in this jubilee year! On this occasion, I am pleased to grant you Albanian citizenship." Meanwhile, Dua confirmed in June that she and her actor partner Callum Turner were engaged after months of speculation following an Instagram post last Christmas that featured her with a diamond ring on her wedding finger. The Houdini hitmaker told Britain's Vogue magazine: "Yeah, we're engaged. It's very exciting." Of her ring, Dua added: "I'm obsessed with it. It's so me. It's nice to know the person that you're going to spend the rest of your life with knows you very well." The couple - who started dating in January 2024 - are yet to set a wedding date because of their hectic work schedules. Dua said: "I want to finish my tour, Callum's shooting, so we're just enjoying this period. "I've never been someone who's really thought about a wedding, or dreamt about what kind of bride I would be. "All of a sudden I'm like: 'Oh, what would I wear?'"
