Before his role in “Amistad,” the 1997 film about a 19th-century revolt by enslaved Africans on a Spanish ship, Djimon Hounsou, a native of Benin in West Africa, had limited knowledge of slavery — including his own country’s involvement. This realization sparked a journey of discovery, leading him to explore the history of the transatlantic slave trade.

“Europe and the U.S. made me aware of the diaspora,” Hounsou said, noting that he and many Africans often don’t learn the full scope of the transatlantic slave trade or its impact on African Americans. “We have been divided, and we don’t feel a connection, but I believe the awareness is slowly coming.” 

The two-time Academy Award nominee is known for his notable roles in films such as “Gladiator” and “Blood Diamond.” He lends his star power to the Djimon Hounsou Foundation, a nonprofit he founded in 2019. 

“I have had the fortune of making films that have some social impact,” he said. “During this time of social challenge and change that we’re going through, it helps to know our history. We need to learn from it and reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re headed.” 

Through his foundation, Hounsou aims to connect the African diaspora with the motherland while celebrating the unity and diversity of Black people. The foundation will host “Run Richmond 16.19,” a cultural and historical event, on Saturday, Sept. 27. Now in its fourth year, the run/walk, held in collaboration with the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, invites participants to experience 400 years of Black history. 

“Richmond is the cradle of American history. It’s also a beautiful place, and it deserves to be celebrated,” he said. 

Hounsou, as part of his foundation’s work, is pushing back against the erasure of Black history at a time when anti-diversity movements are gaining ground. 

“We don’t have to wait for governments,” he said. “We can do it ourselves — layering people together, making people stronger, not pitted against one another.” 

Soft-spoken and deliberate, Hounsou carries himself with humility shaped by his upbringing in Benin. He says he values respect above all and remains focused on honoring ancestors who paved the way. 

“We cannot undo the horrors of the slave trade,” Hounsou said. “The question is how to turn something so horrible into something powerful.” 

Where were you born? 

In Cotonou, Benin. 

What was it like growing up in Benin? 

I didn’t face many challenges growing up in Benin. I was too young, but there was a European indoctrination. The country remains under French influence, with strong political, military and economic ties to France. 

Where do you live now? 

Between L.A. and Atlanta. 

Tell me about your family. 

I have three kids: a teenager, a 3-year-old and a 2-year-old. 

What is the Djimon Hounsou Foundation? 

The Djimon Hounsou Foundation (DHF) is a nonprofit organization seeking to strengthen African identity and awareness, combat modern-day slavery and human trafficking, and reconnect the African diaspora with the culture and roots of the motherland. 

When did you start the foundation? 

Dec. 2, 2019, which marks the “International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.” I announced its formation at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City in the presence of the Congressional Black Caucus. 

What is its mission? 

Our mission is two-fold: To strengthen Africa’s intergenerational identity and self-awareness by reconnecting the peoples of the African Diaspora with their motherland and celebrating “Unity in Diversity.” 

What is Run Richmond 16.19? 

It’s a cultural run or walk event in collaboration with the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, taking place on Saturday, Sept. 27. Runners and walkers can choose between a 16.19K run (10 miles) and a 6.19K run/walk (3.85 miles) and will encounter engaging history signs along the way. The numbers 16.19 represent the year 1619, when the first enslaved Africans arrived in the English colonies, marking the beginning of a dark chapter in American history. It’s our fourth year, and we’re expecting about 2,500 participants. 

Can you describe the disconnect you’ve observed between Africans and the African diaspora? 

The lineage that connects us is misunderstood. I saw it when I came to America in the 1980s. I didn’t speak much English, but it was more than a language barrier. I experienced a lack of knowledge and understanding between Africans and African Americans. For example, I only learned about African American history when I did the movie “Amistad.” I didn’t know my country’s role in the slave trade. Now, I feel the history in my identity. 

What does success for the foundation look like? 

The success of the foundation means reconciliation, remembrance and healing the intergenerational trauma the African diaspora faces as a result of the slave trade. It means that we address it in a meaningful way. It means we see, feel and touch the history. It’s the history of white people, too. 

What are some of DHF’s programs and initiatives? 

We have four distinct strategic programs: Our Africa RECONNECT Series aims to symbolically reverse the direction of the slave trade and celebrate homecoming. We organize free cultural trips to West Africa. We’re building a Pan-African activist network and combating modern-day slavery. 

Who are the Run Richmond 16.19 partners? 

Our partners include the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, Sports Backers, Allianz Partners, the Elegba Folklore Society, Drums No Guns, Community Healing Network, Lessons in Emotional Healing and Freedom, and The Well Collective, along with over 40 community organizations and businesses that contribute to the event’s community focus. 

How do you start your day? 

I drink a large cup of hot water with lemon. 

Who is your dream dinner party guest? 

Marcus Garvey or the former Ghanaian president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who launched the “Year of the Return” initiative in 2019, inviting the global diaspora to visit Ghana. 

What are the three words that best describe you? 

Dedicated. Dreamer. Humanitarian. 

What is a quote that inspires you? 

My mother used to tell me, “If you leave your house and you lose track of where you’re headed, at least remember where you come from.” 

Who has had the most influence in your life? 

My mother, who encouraged me to leave Benin, and my older brother, who made it possible for me to attend school in France. 

What is next for you? 

I will begin filming a trafficking thriller called “Red Card,” set in Kenya’s Maasai Mara and the Moroccan port city of Casablanca, with Halle Berry in October. It is expected to be released in late 2026.