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Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj has revealed that her Nigerian pastor inspired her to speak publicly about the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, urging celebrities and social media influencers to use their platforms to draw international attention to the issue.
Minaj, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, made the disclosure on Saturday during an X Takeover event held at Tesla’s Giga Texas facility in Austin, Texas, United States.
The award-winning singer said her pastor’s Nigerian background and her large following among Nigerian fans had given her a personal connection to the country and influenced her decision to speak about reports of violence against Christians.
“For Nigeria personally, my pastor is from Nigeria, so I have a link to Nigeria because of him. And of course, I have a lot of Nigerian barbs, but what I started seeing was the brutality with which Christians are being treated there just for being Christian,” she said.
Minaj, who refers to her fans as Barbz, said she became concerned about reports of violence against Christians and questioned why more prominent personalities were not publicly addressing the issue.
She suggested that some public figures might avoid speaking about sensitive subjects because they fear controversy or consider such discussions unpopular.
“And I thought, why isn’t anyone making a big deal out of this, you know? And sometimes when things aren’t cool to talk about, people don’t talk about it,” the rapper added.
Calls on celebrities to speak out
The singer urged fellow entertainers, influencers and other public figures to join efforts to raise awareness about the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
According to her, the involvement of more prominent voices could help sustain public attention on the issue and encourage wider discussions about the safety and treatment of Christians in the country.
She also expressed her willingness to continue using her influence to support the cause.
“So right now, actually, I’m hoping that more celebrities or people, influencers, I’m hoping that they come aboard the train to start speaking out about what’s happening to Christians in Nigeria. And I look forward to doing more to help in that way, in that cause,” Minaj said.
Her comments highlight the growing involvement of international entertainment figures in discussions about religious freedom and reports of violence in different parts of the world.
Nigeria has faced persistent security challenges, including attacks by armed groups, banditry and communal violence. The nature and motivations of such attacks vary across locations, with religious, ethnic, criminal and other factors featuring in different incidents.
Minaj’s remarks focused specifically on what she described as the treatment of Christians in Nigeria, while her appeal centred on encouraging more celebrities to speak publicly about the issue.
Personal connection to Nigeria
The rapper’s reference to her Nigerian pastor and Nigerian fans formed the basis of her explanation for becoming involved in the discussion.
Although she did not provide further details about her pastor during the remarks reported by Nigerian Tribune, she said the connection had made developments in Nigeria personally significant to her.
Minaj is among the internationally recognised music stars with a substantial global following, giving her comments the potential to reach audiences beyond the entertainment industry.
Her appeal comes amid continuing international discussions about religious freedom, the protection of vulnerable communities and the responsibility of influential personalities to draw attention to humanitarian concerns.
The singer said she hoped more celebrities and online influencers would join the conversation and indicated that she intended to do more to support efforts addressing the situation.
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