Celebrated filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, have been appointed by the Benin government as thematic ambassadors for African-Americans in the United States, with a mission to deepen connections between the West African nation and people of African descent across the world.

The announcement was made during the couple’s recent visit to Benin’s capital, Cotonou, where they finalised the agreement with authorities.

Their new role will involve raising awareness and supporting efforts to strengthen cultural, spiritual and historical ties between Benin and the African diaspora.

According to French public broadcaster RFI, the Benin government believes the move will help reconnect people of African heritage with their ancestral roots and promote cultural tourism in the country.

The appointment aligns with ongoing national efforts to welcome descendants of enslaved Africans back to the region.

Last year, Benin passed a law that offers nationality to individuals who can trace their ancestry to Africans forcibly taken from the continent during the transatlantic slave trade.

The law followed the launch of a citizenship application portal, which allows applicants to start the process online.

Tonya Lewis Lee, a producer and author, was among those who applied and received a positive response. She had previously visited Benin in 2023.

While the Lees have not yet publicly commented on their appointment, the government praised their contributions to justice and creativity.

It stated that “through their long-standing commitment to justice, their exceptional creativity, and their global reach”, the couple have “profoundly shaped the contemporary narrative of the African diaspora”.

Spike Lee, known for his powerful storytelling on race, identity and social justice, has previously revealed that DNA analysis traced his paternal roots to Cameroon and his maternal side to Sierra Leone. His wife’s ancestral origins have not been disclosed.

Their work, especially Spike Lee’s films, has long explored themes central to African-American life and civil rights, making them highly influential figures within and beyond the United States.

In Benin, the appointment was largely welcomed. Prospère Yehoume, a 27-year-old architecture student in Cotonou, described it as a “strong cultural message, which could be good publicity for Benin”.

Marketing professional Carlos Biogbé said it presented a big opportunity and could attract actors and filmmakers to the country. However, secondary school student Basilia Hinvi questioned why Benin-born Hollywood actor Djimon Hounsou was not chosen for the role.

Benin’s coastline was historically part of the Slave Coast, a key departure point for millions of enslaved Africans sent to the Americas.

The Kingdom of Whydah, located in what is now southern Benin, was one of the major slave-trading hubs, with over a million people believed to have been shipped out between 1580 and 1727.

Benin now hopes that appointing high-profile figures like the Lees will not only strengthen diaspora ties but also position the country as a leading destination for cultural reconnection.