In a significant cultural moment, American actors Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors were formally granted citizenship by the Republic of Guinea during a private ceremony in Conakry on Friday. The recognition came after the couple successfully traced their ancestral lineage to the West African nation through DNA testing.
Djiba Diakité, head of the presidential cabinet, presided over the ceremony, stating: “We consider you among Guinea’s most worthy descendants. You will represent our nation and the red-yellow-green flag across the globe.”
The citizenship award places the Hollywood couple among a growing trend of African nations extending formal recognition to descendants of the diaspora. This development follows similar initiatives by Benin, which granted citizenship to singer Ciara last year, and Ghana, which naturalized 524 African Americans in 2019 as part of commemorations marking the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans’ arrival in North America.
Majors’ career trajectory adds complexity to the story. Once positioned for Hollywood’s highest echelons following acclaimed performances in “Da 5 Bloods” and “Lovecraft Country,” and his casting as Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, his career faced substantial challenges after a 2023 assault conviction. The legal proceedings resulted in his departure from Marvel Studios and the delayed release of his film “Magazine Dreams.”
Throughout his legal challenges, Good maintained a consistent presence, with the couple engaging in 2024 and marrying last year during an impromptu ceremony. Their Guinean citizenship comes during a period of political transition in the country, which has been under military rule since General Mamadi Doumbouya’s 2021 coup. Doumbouya recently secured a controversial presidential election victory amid reported suppression of political opposition.
The newly minted citizens are scheduled to tour Guinea’s significant cultural and tourist sites on Sunday, deepening their connection to their ancestral homeland.