If the movement to return to the origins of Afro-descendant VIPs is generally positive, it must be part of a truly civic approach.
A few weeks after a trip to Nigeria, American rapper Cardi B said she wanted to apply for the country’s nationality. The one who recently stood out with her virulent criticism of Trump’s foreign policy has already chosen a local first name, Chioma, and is posting photos of her in traditional attire on social media. His request delighted the Nigerian authorities, who see it as a great advertisement.
Other African-American celebrities have already obtained the nationality of countries on the continent, such as actor Samuel L. Jackson, who, after having made a DNA test attributing to him origins in Gabon, was granted nationality. Rapper Ludacris has also become a citizen of this country, where his wife, model Eudoxie Mbouguiengue, comes from.
Give meaning to these approaches
A “return to origins” encouraged by certain African states, who see it as an opportunity to improve their image and attract investors. But if the quest for identity is legitimate and if facilitating the return of Afro-descendants to their roots appears laudable, does this necessarily have to go through a process of naturalization?
To acquire a foreign nationality, the applicant must fulfill the conditions of residence and / or integration. However, it is clear that African-American celebrities do not meet these criteria. These new citizenships must be supervised by programs combining history, culture and languages as well as periods of residence, in order to avoid creating a category of above-ground citizens. By creating a link between Africans and African-Americans, we would give meaning to this process.
Questionable legitimacy
Do these stars understand their responsibility? Régis Debray wrote: “The citizen is the one who participates […] in the life of the city, shares with his fellow citizens the power to make the law, the power to elect, and, if necessary, to be elected. “
More than proof of ethnic or cultural affiliation, citizenship is a public commitment. But more interested in their rediscovered Africanness than in the fate of their fellow citizens, these VIPs remain in the background of crucial questions for the continent. Their naturalizations may even benefit leaders of questionable legitimacy: the Eritrean regime thus received the support of actress Tiffany Haddish after granting her citizenship in May 2019.
If this movement to return to the origins of Afro-descendants is generally positive, it must be part of a genuinely citizen approach.
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