American rap star Nicki Minaj has shed more light on why she recently chose to speak publicly about reports of attacks on Christians in Nigeria, saying the issue struck close to home because of her long-standing personal ties to the country.
The rapper addressed the subject during a surprise appearance at AmericaFest on Sunday, where she responded to a question from Erika Kirk, widow of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Asked what pushed her to break her silence, Minaj said her connection to Nigeria made the reports particularly troubling.
According to her, hearing stories of worshippers being targeted for their faith stirred deep concern and anger.
“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 in church, killed and brutalised just because of their religion should make people angry.”
JUST IN: Rapper Nicki Minaj makes a surprise appearance at AmFest, salutes the crowd.
The appearance comes after Minaj recently defended Christians facing persecution in Nigeria.
“Dear God, release your immediate intervention in this matter. Rescue the hostages & may the peace… pic.twitter.com/rD2GpNTf2Z
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 21, 2025
Minaj added that she believes the time for silence has passed, insisting that she and others will continue to speak out on behalf of Christians worldwide.
“We’re not backing down anymore. We are not going to be silenced by bullies. We will speak up for Christians wherever they are in the world,” she said.
Expanding the conversation beyond Nigeria, the rapper reflected on the broader issue of religious freedom, noting that many people underestimate the privilege of being able to worship openly.
“There are people in this world right now who cannot worship God where and how they want. Every time we pray openly, we should remember those hiding to pray and pray for them too,” she said.
Minaj’s comments come after she previously amplified concerns about Nigeria by sharing a post from US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform, where he claimed on October 31 that Christianity was facing an “existential threat” in the country.
Nicki Minaj gets a STANDING OVATION as she speaks on the Slaughter of Christians in Nigeria 💔
She says this is why she loves President Trump because he brought attention to it
“We take for granted right now in this world, there are people who cannot worship God — we take it… https://t.co/s8TfpHxPQ4 pic.twitter.com/zr4iuRrAVv
— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) December 21, 2025
Reacting to that post on November 1, Minaj said she was thankful to live in a place where religious expression is protected and stressed that no group should face persecution because of faith.
The rapper has raised similar concerns before. Last month, she made headlines after discussing the issue during a collaboration with US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz.
At AmericaFest, Minaj also praised President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, describing them as leaders who she believes understand the concerns of everyday Americans. She noted that challenges facing Christians are not limited to Africa, arguing that leadership plays a crucial role in safeguarding religious freedoms.
“Christians have been persecuted in different ways even here. When we talk about Nigeria and other countries, previous administrations saw nothing wrong with that, and that was the problem,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government of Nigeria has consistently rejected claims of a coordinated or systematic persecution of Christians, maintaining that insecurity in the country affects citizens across all religious lines.
The debate continues to spark reactions both locally and internationally, with Minaj’s comments adding a high-profile voice to an already sensitive and complex conversation.