Nicki Minaj Says Nigerian Pastor Inspired Her to Speak on Christian Persecution

 

American rapper Nicki Minaj has revealed that her Nigerian pastor inspired her to speak out about what she described as the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

The award-winning entertainer said her pastor’s Nigerian background, alongside her large Nigerian fan base, had given her a personal connection to the country and motivated her to raise awareness about the issue.

According to Naija News, Minaj made the remarks during an 𝕏 Takeover event at Tesla’s Giga Texas facility in Austin, Texas, on Saturday.

During the event, she urged celebrities, social media influencers and other public figures to use their platforms to draw attention to the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

“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 Barbz, 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, questioned why more public figures were not speaking publicly about the situation.

She suggested that some celebrities might avoid addressing issues they consider controversial, despite their ability to reach large audiences.

“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,” she added.

The rapper expressed hope that more entertainers and influencers would join efforts to raise awareness about the reported treatment of Christians in Nigeria.

“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,” she said.

Minaj’s comments add her voice to international discussions about religious freedom and the security challenges facing communities in Nigeria. Her remarks reflect her stated concerns, while the broader claims about the persecution of Christians remain a subject of public debate and reporting.