In recent years, Hollywood celebrities have been actively reconnecting with Africa by acquiring citizenship across the continent.
This movement largely began in 2019, when Ghana launched the Year of Return initiative, inviting people of African heritage around the world to come home, reconnect, and invest.
Since then, countries across West and Central Africa have opened their doors through ancestry-based laws and special citizenship programmes to Hollywood celebrities, and some now hold African citizenship either through ancestry, cultural ties, or special government initiatives. 
Below are the most notable Hollywood celebrities, starting with the most recent.
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8 Hollywood Celebrities Who Have Been Granted African Citizenship
1. Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good – Guinea (2026)
Hollywood couple Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are two of the latest celebrities to receive African citizenship.
According to ABC News, the pair were awarded Guinean citizenship after DNA testing traced their ancestry to the West African nation. Senior government officials announced the decision during an official ceremony.
Djiba Diakité, head of the Guinean president’s cabinet, said:
“We think that you are among the worthy sons and daughters of this Guinea. You represent our country, the red-yellow-green flag, all over the world.”
2. Stevie Wonder – Ghana (2024)
Music legend Stevie Wonder became a Ghanaian citizen in 2024, on his 74th birthday.
President Nana Akufo-Addo personally presented him with a citizenship certificate during a ceremony at the presidential palace. Wonder described the moment as “an amazing thing” in an interview with the BBC.
Although born in Michigan, Wonder has long expressed a deep connection to Ghana. As far back as the 1970s, he spoke openly about relocating there. Over the years, he has visited frequently, written music in the country, and even announced plans to move permanently.
3. Ciara – Benin (2024)
American singer Ciara officially became a citizen of Benin in 2024, making her one of the first public figures to benefit from the country’s new diaspora citizenship law.
Sharing the news on Instagram, she wrote: “Honoured. Thank you Benin for opening your arms and your heart to me.”
Benin’s My Afro Origins Law allows descendants of enslaved Africans to reclaim citizenship. The government described Ciara’s naturalisation as “symbolic, humane, and historic.”
She received her citizenship in Cotonou as part of a wider effort to strengthen cultural ties and boost heritage tourism.
4. Idris Elba – Sierra Leone (2019)
British-born Idris Elba has African roots; his mother is Ghanaian, while his father hailed from Sierra Leone.
In 2019, the Sierra Leonean government honoured the actor with full citizenship and a diplomatic passport. This was granted under a special process known as citizenship by exception.
This rare form of citizenship is awarded to individuals who provide exceptional service or global representation for a country. It allows recipients to bypass traditional requirements such as residency periods or language tests.
Elba has since spoken about investing in Sierra Leone, including plans for a film studio on the country’s coastline.
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5. Samuel L. Jackson – Gabon (2019)
Hollywood icon Samuel L. Jackson became a Gabonese citizen in 2019, following a DNA discovery on PBS’s Finding Your Roots that traced his ancestry to the Benga people of Gabon.
During a visit to the country to film his documentary Enslaved, Jackson received his passport from the Foreign Minister and took part in a traditional welcoming ceremony.
He later described the experience as a “profound homecoming” that gave him a sense of belonging.
6. Ludacris – Gabon
Rapper and actor Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges also holds Gabonese citizenship, through family ties.
His wife, Eudoxie Bridges, is a native of Gabon, and together they actively promote the country to African-American audiences. Ludacris has repeatedly used his platform to encourage tourism and cultural exchange.
7. Tiffany Haddish – Eritrea (2019)
Comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish became an Eritrean citizen in 2019, embracing her East African heritage.
Since then, she has produced content celebrating Eritrean culture, food, and traditions. Haddish has described the citizenship as a powerful reconnection to her identity and ancestry.
These citizenships mark a global shift, where Africa is reclaiming its diaspora and global icons are reclaiming their roots.
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