Africa\u2019s allure as a cradle of history, culture and opportunity is being rekindled not only by its own citizens but by some of the world\u2019s most recognisable names.<\/p>\n
From award-winning musicians to Hollywood stars, a growing number of international celebrities are formally embracing African nationality, whether to honour ancestral roots, support development projects or strengthen their ties to the motherland.<\/p>\n
Ciara – Benin<\/h3>\n
On July 29, 2025, American singer-songwriter Ciara received Beninese citizenship under a law enacted in September 2024 that grants nationality to descendants of enslaved Africans who can prove lineage via DNA tests, archival records or testimonies.<\/p>\n
Recommended For You<\/span>Celebrities<\/span><\/a>2025-08-04T19:10:53+00:00<\/span><\/p>\n Matata\u2019s Freddy Milanya opens up on childhood accident that led to losing his eye<\/p>\n <\/a><\/div>\n Matata\u2019s Freddy Milanya recalls a childhood mishap that changed his life forever and shaped the determination he brings to his music career.<\/span><\/p>\n Celebrities<\/span><\/a>2025-08-05T14:39:49+00:00<\/span><\/p>\n Koku Lwanga pushes back on 8 claims by Daddie Marto<\/p>\n <\/a><\/div>\n According to her, the decision to take space was mutual and intended to be temporary, lasting three months to allow each of them to reflect and later reconvene.<\/span><\/p>\n Celebrities<\/span><\/a>2025-08-07T07:36:02+00:00<\/span><\/p>\n Shaffie Zele’s viral Uhuru moment, dream job, abrupt exit<\/p>\n <\/a><\/div>\n Shaffie Zele, the radio host made famous overnight by a presidential surprise visit, has sparked speculation after exiting his dream job with a cryptic message.<\/span><\/p>\n American-Beninese singer Ciara<\/p>\n The ceremony in Cotonou, overseen by President Patrice Talon, highlighted Benin\u2019s effort to confront its historical role in the transatlantic slave trade and to foster memorial tourism at sites such as the ‘Door of No Return’, the final exit point through which enslaved Africans were forced onto ships.<\/p>\n READ ALSO: <\/strong>Ciara applauds Okello Max’s viral remix of her ‘How We Roll’ song with Chris Brown<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Music legend Stevie Wonder was formally naturalized as a Ghanaian citizen on May 13, 2024, at a ceremony held in Accra\u2019s Jubilee House.<\/p>\n Stevie Wonder performing<\/p>\n President Nana Akufo-Addo conferred the certificate, acknowledging Wonder\u2019s long-standing advocacy for Pan-African cultural unity and his decades of engagement with Ghana\u2019s music and arts scene.<\/p>\n READ ALSO: <\/strong>Stevie Wonder Reveals He’s Going to Have Kidney Transplant Surgery<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n British actor and producer Idris Elba, whose father was Sierra Leonean, was granted honorary Sierra Leonean citizenship <\/a>on December 20, 2019.<\/p>\n Idris Elba, pictured at the world premiere of ‘Hobbs & Shaw’<\/p>\n Sierra Leonean authorities issued him a diplomatic passport and appointed him a brand ambassador to promote tourism and investment, framing the move as part of post-Ebola image rebuilding.<\/p>\n READ ALSO: <\/strong>Idris Elba to receive Sierra Leone passport in first-time visit<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish officially became an Eritrean citizen in May 2019, reconnecting with her father\u2019s homeland.<\/p>\n Tiffany Haddish<\/p>\n The naturalisation was confirmed by Eritrean diplomats following Haddish\u2019s public expressions of pride in her East African roots and participation in national independence celebrations in Asmara.<\/p>\n READ ALSO: <\/strong>Here is why Tiffany Haddish bought a wedding dress despite not being engaged<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n In January 2020, American rapper and actor Christopher ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, together with his Gabonese wife Eudoxie Mbouguiengue and their children, received Gabonese citizenship.<\/p>\n Ludacris<\/p>\n The ceremony celebrated his embrace of his spouse\u2019s heritage and Gabon\u2019s growing interest in reconnecting with the global African diaspora.<\/p>\n READ ALSO: <\/strong>I Watched All 18 Hours and 13 Minutes of Fast and Furious Movies To Bring You This Ranking<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Grammy-nominated singer and entrepreneur Akon holds dual U.S.\u2013Senegalese nationality.<\/p>\n Akon spent his early childhood in Senegal but moved to the US at age seven, where he later rose to superstardom<\/p>\n Born in St. Louis to Senegalese parents and raised partly in Dakar, he has maintained his Senegalese citizenship since childhood, leveraging it for philanthropic projects such as ‘Akon Lighting Africa’ and the now-shelved ‘Akon City’ <\/a>development in Senegal.<\/p>\n![\"Freddy](\"https:\/\/image.api.sportal365.com\/process\/smp-images-production\/pulselive.co.ke\/04082025\/35e57a10-3c66-426b-a019-92c5a6937c4c.jpg?operations=autocrop(340:210)\"\/)
<\/a><\/div>\n![\"Koku](\"https:\/\/image.api.sportal365.com\/process\/smp-images-production\/pulselive.co.ke\/05082025\/244dfbb2-90a9-4ff7-88ab-d150471d1cce.webp?operations=autocrop(340:210)\"\/)
<\/a><\/div>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/image.api.sportal365.com\/process\/smp-images-production\/pulselive.co.ke\/07082025\/8c9a0e46-fa4f-43e9-81a9-849098cebaf9.png?operations=autocrop(340:210)\"\/)
<\/a><\/div>\n![\"American-Beninese](\"https:\/\/image.api.sportal365.com\/process\/smp-images-production\/pulselive.co.ke\/04082025\/ec28e2db-6d80-4ddd-ad1f-d794a0122875.jpg?operations=fit(1042:)\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\nStevie Wonder – Ghana<\/h3>\n
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Idris Elba – Sierra Leone<\/h3>\n
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Tiffany Haddish – Eritrea<\/h3>\n
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Ludacris – Gabon<\/h3>\n
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Akon – Senegal<\/h3>\n
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