In a significant cultural ceremony on Friday, acclaimed Hollywood actors Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors were formally granted citizenship by the Republic of Guinea after tracing their ancestral lineage to the West African nation through DNA testing. The private event, organized by Guinea’s Ministry of Culture at the Gbassi Kolo tourist and cultural center, represents the latest initiative by African nations to encourage diaspora communities to reclaim their heritage.
Djiba Diakité, Minister and Chief of Staff of the Presidency, presented the official passports to the couple on behalf of President Mamadi Doumbouya. “We both believe that you are among the worthy sons and daughters of Guinea to represent our country and the red and green flag throughout the world,” Diakité stated during the ceremony, which featured traditional dance performances and djembe drumming.
The actors, who began dating in May 2023 and married last year, expressed their profound connection to Guinea. “We could absolutely see ourselves having a home here and spending meaningful time in Guinea,” the couple told the BBC via email. “This is not a fleeting connection – it’s something we see as long-term and evolving.”
Majors, known for his roles in ‘Creed’ and ‘Ant-Man,’ described the citizenship as a means of “bridging the gap” between their identities as entertainers and members of the African diaspora. Good, celebrated for her performance in ‘Think Like a Man,’ noted this marked her first visit to Guinea.
The ceremony occurred against the backdrop of Guinea’s recent political transition. The country has recently returned to civilian rule following elections last month, won by coup leader General Mamady Doumbouya with 87% of the vote. Unlike other West African nations that have experienced recent coups, Guinea has maintained relations with Western governments, particularly France.
This event continues a trend began by Ghana’s 2019 “Year of Return” initiative, which has seen several prominent figures including Stevie Wonder (2024), Ciara (Beninese citizenship), and Samuel L. Jackson (Gabonese passport) establish formal ties with African nations. Guinea itself has historical precedent in welcoming diaspora figures, having hosted South African singer Miriam Makeba and civil rights activist Stokely Carmichael (later known as Kwame Ture) in the 1960s.
The couple’s itinerary includes a tour of Boké, a coastal region containing historic slave trade sites. While their specific investment plans remain unclear, the gesture symbolizes Guinea’s ongoing outreach to the global African community despite the country’s economic challenges—being mineral-rich yet having one of West Africa’s poorest populations.