Benin grants citizenship to descendants of enslaved people. U.S. singer Ciara is among the first

U.S. singer Ciara is one of the first public figures to become a citizen of Benin under a recent law by the small West African country granting citizenship to descendants of enslaved people.

- By MARK BANCHEREAU

The Grammy-winning performer's granting of citizenship at a ceremony Saturday in the city of Cotonou is part of a broader initiative by Benin to attract the Black diaspora, acknowledge the country's role in the transatlantic slave trade, and promote tourism focused on slavery-related sites of remembrance.

"By legally recognizing these children of Africa, Benin is healing a historical wound. It is an act of justice, but also one of belonging and hope," Justice Minister Yvon Détchénou said at the ceremony.

Here's what to know about Benin's efforts to welcome descendants of enslaved people:

Benin's Afro-descendant citizenship law

In September, Benin passed a law granting citizenship to those who can trace their lineage to the slave trade. It is open to anyone above age 18 who doesn't already hold other African citizenship and can provide proof that an ancestor was deported via the slave trade from anywhere in sub-Saharan Africa.