Notable Black People Who Were Granted Citizenship From African Nations
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Getting back to our roots has been a movement for decades within the Black community! The privilege of knowing exactly where you come from isn’t one that Black people outside of Africa have, but more and more are taking those steps to find it!
No matter where a Black person is from, their roots begin on the continent of Africa. Just like North America has three countries, Africa is made up of 54 countries. Each country with its own history, culture, languages, music, food and more! As the interest to learn more about The Mother Land continues to grow, many have decided to join the Blaxit and return to different countries throughout the continent. In 2019, Ghana declared it the Year Of The Return, which marked 400 years since the first enslaved Africans were taken to Jamestown, Virginia. Since 2019 and even before, people of the diaspora have gone “Beyond The Return” and visited, lived and/or got citizenship with countries throughout Africa.
Here are eight celebrities who took the major step to become a citizen of countries in Africa.
Stevie Wonder
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Stevie Wonder became a Ghanaian citizen on May 13, 2024, to celebrate his 74th birthday in a very special way!
Also See: Super Bowl Commercial Spotlights NFL Dreams In Ghana
Idris Elba
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Idris Elba, born and raise in Britain, was granted honorary citizenship on Dec. 20, 2019, to Sierra Leone. Elba has a Sierra Leonean father and a Ghanaian mother.
Learn More About Sierra Leone Here
Also See: Idris Elba Set To Open A Film Studio In Ghana
Ludacris
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Ludacris and his children become citizens of Gabon in 2020. His wife, Eudoxie Mbouguiengue Bridges, is Gabonese and lived in Gabon until she was a teenager.
Also See: African Countries With French As An Official Language
Yandy and Mendeecees Harris
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Reality Stars, Yandy and Mendeecees Harris along with over 500 more people got their Ghanaian citizenship in December 2024.
Also See: African Countries With English As An Official Language
Dr. Umar Johnson
Source: Courtesy of the Daily Rap Up Crew podcast
Activist Dr. Umar Johnson along with over 500 more people got his Ghanaian citizenship in December 2024.
Also See: Countries Located In West Africa
Tiffany Haddish
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Tiffany Haddish became a naturalized Eritrean citizen on May 22, 2019. Her first visit to the country was in 2018 for the burial of her Eritrean father. Haddish has celebrated Eritrean independence day and connected with her relatives in Eritrea since becoming a citizen.
Also See: Countries Located In East Africa
Samuel L. Jackson
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Samuel L. Jackson was granted Gabonese citizenship in August 2019 after the results of a DNA test found his roots in the country’s Benga ethnic group.
Also See: African Countries U.S. Passport Holders Can Travel To Without A Visa
If you’re ready to find out where your roots are, ask family members, visit a country or taking a DNA test are great options. For the most precise results, use African Ancestry as they do not sell your DNA or store it for other uses as other DNA companies may. Plus it is Black owned and operated! (As a note, make sure to check if the country you want to gain citizenship in allows duel-citizenship.)
SEE ALSO:
Op-Ed: Making The Case To Rename Africa
Media And The Motherland: Exploring 100 Years Of Radio In Africa