American rap star Nicki Minaj has opened up about why she chose to publicly speak against the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, pointing to her personal ties to the country and disturbing reports of violence against worshippers.
Minaj shared her thoughts during a surprise appearance at AmericaFest on Sunday, where she was asked what motivated her to raise concerns about the situation facing Christians in Nigeria.
According to the rapper, her connection to the country runs deep. She revealed that her pastor is Nigerian and that she has many Nigerian fans, often referred to as “Barbs,” which made the reports particularly painful for her to hear.
“Nigeria is a place I’ve always loved. Someone very dear to me, my pastor is Nigerian, and I have lots of Nigerian Barbs,” she said.
“So hearing that people are being kidnapped in church, killed and brutalised simply because of their religion should spark outrage.”
Minaj stressed that she is no longer willing to remain silent on issues of religious persecution.
“We’re not backing down anymore. We are not going to be silenced by bullies. We will speak up for Christians wherever they are in this world,” she declared.
Beyond Nigeria, the rapper also spoke broadly about religious freedom, warning that many people often take the right to worship for granted.
“We forget that right now, somewhere in this world, there are people who cannot worship God freely,” she said.
“Every time we pray openly, we should remember those who are hiding just to pray together, and we must pray for them.”
Minaj has previously expressed concern about the situation in Nigeria. Earlier this year, she shared a post by former US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform, in which he claimed that Christianity was facing an “existential threat” in Nigeria.
Reacting to the post, Minaj wrote that it made her deeply grateful for the freedom to worship in the United States, adding that no group should ever face persecution for their faith.
PUNCH Online reports that the rapper also made headlines last month after raising similar concerns during a collaboration with US Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz.
During her appearance at AmericaFest, Minaj went on to praise Trump and Vice President JD Vance, describing them as leaders who she believes understand the concerns of everyday Americans.
She concluded by noting that Christians also face challenges in the United States, stressing that strong leadership plays a key role in protecting religious freedom.
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