Global rap icon Nicki Minaj has further clarified her vocal stance on the treatment of Christians in Nigeria, citing deep personal connections and her refusal to remain silent in the face of “outrageous” violence.
Making a surprise appearance at AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday, December 21, 2025, Minaj responded to questions about her recent advocacy. The rapper revealed that her concerns are driven by her personal relationships, including her pastor and her massive Nigerian fanbase.
Minaj explained that the country holds a special place in her heart, making the reports of kidnappings and killings of worshippers impossible to ignore.
“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 emphasized that the global community must not be intimidated by those attempting to suppress these reports. “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 declared.
The rapper also touched on the broader issue of religious liberty, reminding her audience that the freedom to worship openly is a luxury many take for granted while others are forced into secrecy.
“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.”
Minaj’s advocacy follows her recent collaboration with the United States Mission to the United Nations and her support for statements made by President Donald Trump, who recently designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
She praised the current U.S. leadership for prioritizing religious freedom, contrasting it with what she described as the silence of previous administrations. “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.
