“I Am Where I’m Meant to Be”: Stevie Wonder’s Ghanaian Citizenship and the Diaspora’s Return

On May 13, 2024 — his 74th birthday — legendary musician and humanitarian Stevie Wonder stood at Jubilee House in Accra, draped in a flowing black agbada, and accepted Ghanaian citizenship from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The ceremony marked more than a personal milestone: it was a symbolic moment in the ongoing reconnection between Africa and its diaspora.

“Now that I am a citizen of this country, my goal is to bring people together,” Wonder said, his voice resonating with conviction. “This was a dream that I knew would happen. I just didn’t know when or how”.

A Legacy of Return

Wonder joins a long lineage of African-descended figures who have made Ghana their home — from W.E.B. Du Bois and Maya Angelou to Rita Marley and George Padmore. President Akufo-Addo invoked their names during the conferment, describing Wonder’s citizenship as “a vivid manifestation of the goals of the Year of Return” — Ghana’s 2019 initiative to commemorate 400 years since the transatlantic slave trade and invite descendants back to the continent.

“In conferring Ghanaian citizenship upon Stevie Wonder, we not only extend our warmest embrace to a beloved son of Africa,” the president said, “but also reaffirm our belief in the enduring spirit of Pan-Africanism and the global African family”.

A Personal Journey

Wonder’s connection to Ghana dates back to the 1990s, when he first visited and began exploring the country’s cultural and spiritual heritage. In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, he announced his intention to relocate permanently, citing political turmoil in the United States and a desire to live in a place that aligned with his values.

“I felt Ghana. I felt my civilisation was there and I was there where it began,” he said at the citizenship ceremony.

His decision to hold dual citizenship — retaining his American nationality while embracing Ghanaian identity — reflects a growing trend among diaspora artists, entrepreneurs, and activists seeking deeper ties to Africa without severing global connections.

Music, Advocacy, and Unity

Wonder’s career spans more than six decades, with 25 Grammy Awards and a catalogue of timeless songs that have shaped global consciousness. But his impact goes beyond music. He has long championed civil rights, disability inclusion, and humanitarian causes — from campaigning for Martin Luther King Jr. Day to advocating for accessible technology.

In Accra, he framed his new citizenship as a platform for unity.

“In a time where there is division all over the world, the call is for us all to come together to give voice to the voiceless,” he said. “What is right is to bring all African countries together, to bring all people together — not to create fear, but to create life, peace, and love”.

The Broader Wave

Wonder’s move is part of a wider pattern. Since the Year of Return, Ghana has seen a steady increase in diaspora relocations — from African Americans and Caribbean nationals to Afro-Europeans seeking cultural reconnection and economic opportunity. The Ghana Immigration Service reported over 1,500 citizenship applications from diaspora descendants between 2020 and 2024, with hundreds more seeking long-term residency.

Diaspora investment has also surged, with real estate, tech, and creative industries attracting capital from abroad. Yet the trend has sparked debate. Some local communities have raised concerns about land access, gentrification, and unequal benefits. In Asebu, Central Region, residents recently protested land deals linked to diaspora resettlement projects, calling for greater transparency and community involvement.

A Moment of Meaning

For Wonder, the ceremony was both personal and political. He spoke of unity not as convenience, but as necessity — a call to transcend borders and divisions.

“We are the original people of the planet, and it is only fitting that we come together in the spirit of unity,” he said. “I am singing of love from my heart”.

His words echoed the ethos of Pan-Africanism, not as nostalgia but as a living project — one that links music, memory, and movement across continents.