American rapper Nicki Minaj has explained why she chose to speak publicly about the plight of Christians in Nigeria, citing personal connections to the country and disturbing reports of attacks on worshippers.

Minaj addressed the issue during a surprise appearance at AmericaFest, responding to questions from the audience about Nigeria. She revealed that her pastor is Nigerian and that she has a significant fan base in the country, known as “Nigerian Barbs,” making it difficult for her to remain silent.

“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 while they’re in church, people are being killed and brutalised all because of their religion—that should spark outrage.”

The rapper emphasised that staying silent only emboldens oppression, declaring her commitment to speaking up for Christians globally.

“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 highlighted the broader issue of religious freedom, warning that many people around the world do not have the basic right to worship openly, and that such freedoms are often taken for granted in countries where they are protected.

“Every time we pray in fellowship, we have to remember the people who are hiding to pray elsewhere in the world, and we have to pray for them,” she said.

Her remarks come weeks after she reacted to a social media post by former U.S. 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 in the U.S. and condemned religious persecution.

During AmericaFest, she also praised Trump and Vice President JD Vance, noting their understanding of ordinary people’s concerns. She stressed that Christians face challenges even in the United States and that leadership plays a crucial role in safeguarding religious freedom.

“Christians have been persecuted right here in our country in different ways. So when we talk about Nigeria and other countries, prior administrations saw nothing wrong with that, and that’s what was wrong with them,” she concluded.

Nicki Minaj Speaks Out on Persecution of Christians in Nigeria

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