American singer, Lauryn Hill, has embraced her African roots in a vibrant cultural ceremony in Benin, West Africa.
Mapaballo Borotho

The iconic artist, known for her music that’s centered around the Black identity and culture, Lauryn Hill recently discovered through ancestry tracing that her lineage connects to Benin, a nation renowned for its rich heritage, resilience, and musical traditions.
She travelled to the West African country to honour her ancestry in a colourful celebration. Dressed in traditional fabrics and wearing an Afrocentric hairstyle, she immersed herself in local customs, drumming alongside Beninese musicians and dancing with radiant joy.
American singer Lauryn Hill lands in Benin Republic for a life changing citizenship & ancestry ceremony! Ciara’s already traced her roots there now it’s Hill’s turn to reclaim her African heritage pic.twitter.com/8kQ28J7s2m
— Afrika Stories (@Afrika_Stories) August 4, 2025
Her journey comes at a time when many African Americans are taking steps to reclaim their heritage through DNA testing, travel, and cultural reconnection.
Recently, singer Ciara Wilson was also honoured with Beninese citizenship in a special ceremony, marking the growing movement of African Americans reconnecting with their ancestral homelands.
Benin, located along the West African coast near Nigeria and Togo, is home to the historic Kingdom of Dahomey, a powerful pre-colonial empire that inspired the acclaimed film The Woman King.
The West African nation is also home to musician Angelique Kidjo, who made history as the first Black African artist to be selected to receive a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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