Benin has appointed Oscar‑winning filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, producer‑author Tonya Lewis Lee, as “thematic ambassadors” charged with deepening the West African nation’s ties to African‑Americans and the wider diaspora.
Under an agreement sealed during the couple’s visit to Cotonou last week, the Lees will:
- promote cultural tourism and heritage travel to Benin;
- support a new citizenship pathway for descendants of enslaved Africans;
- raise international awareness of Benin’s historical role on the former Slave Coast.
The government said the pair’s “global reach and decades‑long commitment to social justice” make them ideal advocates for reconnecting people of African descent “to their cultural and spiritual roots.”
Citizenship drive
Benin last year passed legislation allowing anyone who can trace at least one ancestor abducted in the trans‑Atlantic slave trade to claim Beninese nationality. A dedicated website launched in June lets applicants file documentation online; officials say Tonya Lewis Lee was among the first to receive preliminary approval.
Cultural‑heritage tourism has become a competitive sector across West Africa. Ghana’s 2019 “Year of Return” campaign drew nearly a million visitors and injected an estimated $1.9 billion into its economy. Cotonou hopes the Lees’ star power will generate similar momentum, with local entrepreneurs predicting new film shoots and hospitality projects.
Mixed reactions
Most Cotonois welcomed the appointment, calling it a “strong cultural message.” Some, however, questioned why Hollywood actor Djimon Hounsou, a native of Benin, was not tapped for the role.
From the 16th to 18th centuries, the coastal Kingdom of Whydah—now part of southern Benin—exported more than a million enslaved Africans to the Americas. The government says acknowledging that history while offering modern avenues for reconnection is central to its diaspora strategy.
Spike Lee traces paternal roots to Cameroon and maternal lineage to Sierra Leone, while his wife’s precise ancestry has not been publicised. The Lees have yet to comment publicly on their new roles.