Lilith Dorsey, an American in New Orleans, may move to Benin to feel closer to her roots.
With a new Beninese law offering nationality to descendants of enslaved Africans, Dorsey hopes to connect more deeply with her heritage.
The legislation, passed on July 30, aims to attract those with ancestral ties to West Africa, a region deeply impacted by the slave trade.
Millions were forcibly taken from the region, including from Benin’s shores.
The law, awaiting approval by President Patrice Talon, will allow those with African, sub-Saharan ancestors from the slave trade to acquire Beninese citizenship.
This initiative is seen as a way to address identity struggles among Afro-descendants.
Nathan Debos, another American, plans to seek Beninese citizenship while attending a Voodoo festival in Ouidah in January 2025.
The festival, rooted in local traditions, will be his entry point for starting the application process.
Some Beninese, like Vodun dignitary Seraphin Adjagboni, welcome this development, seeing it as a fulfillment of ancestral predictions.
However, concerns about the law’s impact on local job markets persist among some, like student Noel Sintondji.