American rapper Nicki Minaj has explained her decision to publicly address the situation of Christians in Nigeria, citing her personal ties to the country and disturbing reports of violence against worshippers.
Minaj spoke on the issue during a surprise appearance at AmericaFest, where she took questions from the audience and was asked about Nigeria. She said the country holds deep personal meaning for her, making it impossible for her to remain silent amid reports of attacks on Christians.
According to the rapper, her pastor is Nigerian and she also enjoys strong support from fans in the country, popularly known as “Nigerian barbs.” She said reports of Christians being kidnapped or killed while attending church are deeply troubling and should concern the global community.
“Nigeria is a place I’ve always loved. Someone very dear to me, my pastor, is Nigerian, and I have lots of Nigerian barbs,” Minaj said. “So hearing that people are being kidnapped while they’re in church, people are being killed, brutalised, all because of their religion, that should spark outrage.”
She stressed that silence in the face of persecution only empowers oppressors, adding that she is no longer willing to stay quiet on matters of faith and religious freedom.
“We’re not backing down anymore. We are not going to be silenced by the bullies anymore. We will speak up for Christians wherever they are in this world,” she said.
Minaj also broadened the discussion to global religious freedom, noting that many people around the world do not enjoy the right to worship openly. She warned that such freedoms are often taken for granted in countries where they exist.
“We take for granted that there, right now in this world, are people who cannot worship God as they please, where they please,” she said. “Every time we pray in fellowship, we have to remember the people that are right now in this world hiding to pray in fellowship, and we have to pray for them.”
Her comments come after her recent reaction to a social media post by former US President Donald Trump, who claimed that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.” At the time, Minaj expressed gratitude for the freedom to worship and condemned religious persecution.
“Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practising their religion,” she wrote.
During the AmericaFest event, Minaj also praised Trump and Vice President JD Vance, saying they understand the concerns of ordinary people. She added that Christians also face challenges in the United States and emphasized that leadership plays a crucial role in protecting religious freedom.
“Christians have been persecuted right here in our country in different ways,” she said, adding that global and domestic religious persecution must be confronted rather than ignored.
