Spike Lee and Wife Tonya Lewis Lee Named Cultural Ambassadors for Benin

Spike Lee and his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, have been officially named cultural ambassadors for the West African nation of Benin.

According to the BBC, the couple, both long-standing advocates for social justice and Black identity, are now tasked with promoting Benin’s cultural ties to the global Black diaspora—especially to Black Americans.

The appointment was finalized during their recent visit to Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin. As part of their new roles, the couple will serve as thematic ambassadors, supporting initiatives that reconnect people of African descent with their historical, spiritual, and cultural roots in Benin.

Benin hopes the move will boost cultural tourism and encourage the preservation of its heritage. This effort follows the passage of a law last year offering citizenship to individuals who can trace their ancestry to Africans taken during the Transatlantic slave trade. A newly launched website now allows descendants of enslaved people to apply for citizenship.

Benin’s coastline was once part of the Slave Coast, where over a million Africans were forced into the Transatlantic slave trade between 1580 and 1727.

The Benin government praised the couple for their global influence and commitment to civil rights, saying they have “profoundly shaped the contemporary narrative of the African diaspora.”

Tonya, a producer and author, reportedly applied through the initiative and received a favorable response. She previously visited Benin in 2023. While Spike has traced his paternal lineage to Cameroon and maternal roots to Sierra Leone, Tonya's specific ancestry has not been publicly disclosed.

Though Spike and Tonya have not publicly commented on their appointment, the response in Benin has been positive.

Cotonou residents expressed excitement over the move. A 27-year-old architecture student told the BBC that their appointment sent a “strong cultural message,” while a local marketer noted it could open the door for future film productions in the country.