From Hollywood to the homeland: Why African countries are courting black American stars

February 7, 2026

Several African nations, including Ghana, Benin, Guinea, and Gabon, are granting citizenship to prominent African-American celebrities as part of a strategic effort to strengthen cultural and economic ties with the diaspora. This trend, facilitated by DNA testing that traces ancestral roots, has seen stars like Stevie Wonder, Ciara, and Samuel L. Jackson receive citizenship through elaborate ceremonies documented on social media.

Who is affected

African-American celebrities including Ciara, Ludacris, Samuel L. Jackson, Meagan Good, Jonathan Majors, Stevie Wonder, and IShowSpeed
African governments and tourism authorities in Ghana, Benin, Guinea, and Gabon
Citizens of these African countries who go through standard passport and citizenship processes
The broader African-American diaspora community (over 1,000 have relocated to Ghana in the past decade)
African tourism industries and local economies
Specific individuals like Taufic Suleman (Ghanaian painter and decorator who expressed criticism) and Dr. Erieka Bennet (ambassador for the Diaspora African Forum)

What action is being taken

Benin is building The Marina Project, a memorial and tourist complex in Ouidah
Benin's government is opening a government agency specifically dedicated to naturalizing "Afro-descendants"
Ghana is pausing its citizenship applications to make the system more accessible and user-friendly
The Diaspora African Forum is helping people relocate to Ghana
Celebrities like Ciara are returning to their adopted countries (she performed at Benin's Vodun Days festival in January)

Why it matters

This trend represents a significant effort by African nations with limited natural resources to leverage cultural heritage and diaspora connections for economic development. For countries like Benin, which lack diamonds or oil, celebrity ambassadors provide crucial global visibility and soft power that can drive tourism revenue from African-Americans, a demographic with growing economic power. Beyond economics, these citizenship ceremonies symbolize the healing of historical wounds from the transatlantic slave trade and represent concrete action toward pan-African unity rather than just rhetoric. The initiative also has the potential to encourage broader diaspora investment, property purchases, and permanent relocation, creating lasting economic and cultural benefits for participating African nations.

What's next

Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors have indicated their connection with Guinea will be "long-term and evolving" and they are considering having a home there and spending meaningful time in the country. It will take one to two decades for Ghana, Gabon, Guinea, and Benin to gauge whether their strategies have paid off, according to Francis Kpatindé. Ghana has announced plans to resume its citizenship application process after making it more accessible and user-friendly. Benin will be opening its new government agency dedicated to naturalizing Afro-descendants.

Read full article from source: BBC