Hollywood actors Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors are traveling to Guinea to officially receive citizenship after discovering through DNA testing that they have ancestral ties to the West African nation.
The couple, both well-known in the United States, arrived in Conakry early Friday, where they were warmly welcomed for a private cultural ceremony.
“This is our first time here, and we are just happy to be here,” said Good, famous for her role in Think Like a Man. Majors, known for Creed and Ant-Man, shared his excitement about exploring Guinea alongside his wife: “I am excited to meet the people and go around the town with my wife.”
The ceremony, organised by Guinea’s Ministry of Culture, took place on Friday at a newly opened garden on the outskirts of the capital. It was part of an ongoing regional movement to encourage members of the African diaspora to reconnect with their heritage and explore investment opportunities in Africa.
Upon arrival at Gbessia International Airport, the couple received a traditional reception with music, officials, and fans. They were presented with kola nuts, a symbolic West African gift representing peace, friendship, hospitality, and life. Such offerings are often used in key cultural and social ceremonies, including weddings and negotiations.
During their visit, Good and Majors are scheduled to tour Boké, a coastal area with sites linked to the transatlantic slave trade. There is no confirmation on whether they plan to make investments or relocate to Guinea in the long term.
The stars were presented with kola nuts - a culturally symbolic gift of welcome.PHOTO/Oxygen AfricaGood, 44, and Majors, 36, began dating in May 2023 and were married last year, following a challenging period in Majors’ life. In 2024, he was sentenced to probation in the US for assaulting his former partner, British choreographer Grace Jabbari, and completed a 52-week domestic violence program as part of his sentence.
The trend of African-American celebrities seeking citizenship in African countries has grown in recent years. It gained momentum in 2019 when Ghana launched the “Year of Return,” inviting people with African heritage to reconnect with the continent.
Notable examples include Stevie Wonder in 2024, Ciara acquiring Beninese citizenship last year, and Samuel L Jackson obtaining a Gabonese passport in 2020.
Guinea has historically welcomed activists and diaspora members. In the 1960s, South African singer Miriam Makeba and US civil rights leader Stokely Carmichael moved to the country.
Makeba, who opposed apartheid, became stateless in the US, while Carmichael, who adopted the name Kwame Ture, lived in Guinea until his death in 1998.
The nation has experienced political upheaval, including a 2021 coup led by Gen Mamady Doumbouya, which limited media freedoms and restricted protests.
Guinea has since returned to civilian rule after elections last month, with Doumbouya winning 87% of the vote. Despite past unrest, the country maintains ties with Western nations, including France.
Guinea is rich in resources such as bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, and uranium, though many citizens continue to face significant economic challenges.
