American rapper Nicki Minaj has explained her act of speaking about the plight of Christians in Nigeria, pointing to her connection to the country and disturbing reports of violence against worshippers.
Nicki Minaj addressed the issue during a surprise appearance at AmericaFest, where she took questions from the audience.
Responding to a question about Nigeria, she said the country means a great deal to her and that reports of attacks on Christians have been upsetting.
She disclosed that her pastor is Nigerian and that she enjoys strong support from fans in the country, widely referred to as “Nigerian barbs.”
Christians in Nigeria targeted, driven from their homes, says Nicki Minaj at UN
According to her, these ties made it impossible for her to stay silent. She added that reports of Christians being kidnapped and killed during church activities should alarm 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. 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 said.
The rapper noted that remaining silent only fuels oppression, making it clear that she is no longer willing to keep quiet about issues of faith and persecution.
“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.
The rapper also touched on the broader issue of religious freedom, pointing out that many people globally do not enjoy the basic right to worship openly.
“We take for granted that there, right now in this world, are people who cannot worship God as they please, where they please. 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,” she stated.
Her comments come weeks after she reacted to a social media post by United States President Donald Trump, who claimed that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.” At the time, Minaj expressed appreciation 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.
At the AmericaFest event, Minaj also praised US President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, saying they understand the concerns of everyday people.
She added that Christians also face challenges in the United States, emphasising the importance of leadership in protecting religious freedom.
“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 concluded.
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