US film stars Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors have been granted citizenship of Guinea after DNA tests traced their ancestry to the West African nation.
The husband and wife travelled to Guinea, where their citizenship was confirmed during a private cultural ceremony organised by the Ministry of Culture. The event took place on Friday at the Gbassi Kolo tourist and cultural centre.
Speaking about the moment, Jonathan Majors said becoming Guinean citizens would help the couple “bridge the gap” between their personal histories as members of the African diaspora and their professional lives as entertainers. Meagan Good, who described the visit as her first time in Guinea, expressed gratitude to the authorities and people of the country for the warm reception.
Guinean passports were presented to the actors by Djiba Diakité, the minister and chief of staff of the presidency, on behalf of President Mamadi Doumbouya. He told the couple they were now considered worthy sons and daughters of Guinea, capable of representing the country and its national colours across the world.
The ceremony included traditional music and dance performances, with drumming on the djembe, an instrument Guinea is well known for internationally. The couple arrived earlier that day at Gbessia International Airport in Conakry, where they were welcomed by officials, musicians, and cultural performers.
In comments sent to the BBC by email, the actors said they could see themselves having a home in Guinea and spending meaningful time in the country. They described their connection as long-term rather than symbolic.
Good, 44, and Majors, 36, began dating in 2023 and married last year. Their marriage followed a difficult period for Majors, who in 2024 was sentenced in the United States to probation after being found guilty of assaulting his former partner. He was also ordered to complete a domestic violence intervention programme.
During their stay, the couple are expected to visit Boké, a coastal region associated with historic slave trade sites. It remains unclear whether they plan to invest in or relocate permanently to Guinea.
Their citizenship ceremony follows a wider trend across Africa encouraging people of African descent to reconnect with their roots. Similar initiatives have been seen in countries such as Ghana, Benin, and Gabon, with several international celebrities acquiring African citizenship in recent years.
Guinea itself has a long history of hosting members of the African diaspora. In the 1960s, South African singer Miriam Makeba and US civil rights activist Stokely Carmichael lived in the country after facing restrictions abroad due to their political activism.
Despite its cultural influence and mineral wealth, Guinea has faced political instability and economic challenges in recent years. The country recently returned to civilian rule after elections, following a period of military leadership that began in 2021.
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