New York to Benin: Spike and Tonya Lee chosen to reconnect millions to their African roots

Business Insider

2 days ago

The Republic of Benin has designated acclaimed American director Spike Lee and his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, as thematic ambassadors to the Afro-descendant diaspora in the United States.
The president of Benin has named Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee thematic ambassadors to the Afro-descendant diaspora in the U.S.
This initiative is part of Benin's efforts to reconnect with descendants of Africans affected by the transatlantic slave trade.
The Lees' appointment connects their advocacy in social justice and cultural preservation to Benin's historical narrative.
The appointment reflects Benin's increased efforts to reconnect with the millions of individuals in the Americas and elsewhere who are descended from Africans cruelly removed from its shores during the transatlantic slave trade.
The Lees will serve as "thematic" ambassadors, promoting Beninese government initiatives aimed at restoring legacy, culture, and identity for Afro-descendants worldwide, as reported by AfricanNews.
Tonya Lewis Lee applied through Benin's newly formed Afro-descendant initiative, and she immediately got a positive response.
She traveled to Benin in 2024 as part of the country's outreach to its global diaspora.
Benin's plan mimics previous attempts, such as Ghana's 2019 "Year of Return," which encouraged individuals of African descent to reconnect with ancestral territories.
However, Benin's program is more directly anchored in history: the small West African country was formerly a hub of the transatlantic slave trade.
Millions of Africans were caught, incarcerated, and transported to the Americas over centuries from what is now known as Benin.
The move also aims to bolster the West African country's tourism industry.
Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee
Spike Lee, an acclaimed director, and his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, form a dynamic team whose influence extends to cinema, public health, and social justice.
The pair has been married since 1993 and have consistently used their platforms to elevate African-American voices and address critical issues affecting the Black community in the United States and abroad.
Spike Lee, known for acclaimed movies such as Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, and BlacKkKlansman, has long championed civil rights and Black identity through film.
He previously stated that DNA tests indicated his father's ancestry in Cameroon and his mother's roots in Sierra Leone.
Tonya Lewis Lee's native nation is unknown to the public, but she has long advocated for racial justice, health fairness, and social change via cinema and writing.
She is a producer, author, and advocate focused on health equity and empowerment.