American rapper Nicki Minaj has explained her decision to publicly address reports of violence against Christians in Nigeria, highlighting both her personal connections to the country and concerns about attacks on worshippers.
Minaj made the comments during a surprise appearance at AmericaFest on Sunday, responding to a question from Erika Kirk, widow of political activist Charlie Kirk.
When asked what motivated her to speak out, Minaj referenced her longstanding ties to Nigeria, including friendships with Nigerian individuals and her pastor. She said, “Nigeria is a place I’ve always loved. Someone very dear to me, my pastor, is Nigerian, and I have lots of Nigerian barbs. 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.”
The rapper emphasized the importance of standing against religious persecution worldwide, stating, “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 also urged awareness of global restrictions on religious freedom, noting that many take the ability to worship freely for granted.
Minaj’s advocacy follows her previous social media activity on the issue. In early November, she responded to a post by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who wrote that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” saying, “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.”
Minaj had also raised concerns about the treatment of Christians in Nigeria during a collaboration with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz. At AmericaFest, she praised Trump and political commentator JD Vance, describing them as leaders attuned to the concerns of ordinary Americans.
During the session, she also addressed challenges facing Christians in the United States, highlighting the role of leadership in protecting religious freedoms. “Christians have been persecuted right here in our country in different ways. So when we talk about Nigeria and other countries, know that prior administrations saw nothing wrong with that, and that’s what was wrong with them,” she said.
The Nigerian government, however, has consistently rejected claims of a coordinated or systematic campaign against Christians, describing such narratives as false and misleading. Officials maintain that insecurity affects Nigerians of all religious backgrounds and that the country’s challenges are complex rather than faith-specific.
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