🇧🇯 Russell Wilson is deepening his connection to West Africa—officially starting the process to become a citizen of Benin under the country’s Afro-descendant nationality initiative.
According to reports, the NFL quarterback made the announcement during his first-ever visit to Benin in January 2026, coinciding with the country’s annual Vodun Days celebration in Ouidah.
Wilson is applying through the My Afro Origins platform, the official government portal that allows individuals of African descent to prove ancestral ties to the transatlantic slave trade and apply for Beninese citizenship.
The process requires DNA testing, family records, or verified testimonies, and takes roughly three months once the application is approved.
The timing of Wilson’s announcement was symbolic. Vodun Days, held annually from January 8–10, is a spiritual and cultural event designed to reclaim and celebrate Vodun as a legitimate part of African heritage.
Wilson was in attendance not just as a participant but also as Ciara’s supportive husband, who returned to perform at Vodun Days for the first time since she was granted Beninese citizenship in July 2025.
[COMPLEX]