Rapper Nicki Minaj and UN ambassador join voices against Christian persecution in Nigeria
In an unexpected alliance, United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz is collaborating with rapper Nicki Minaj to raise awareness about the severe persecution of Christians in Nigeria. This partnership, which has garnered significant attention, is set to culminate in a public address in New York City this week. Waltz, a self-proclaimed fan of Minaj, praised her as “arguably the greatest female recording artist” and expressed gratitude for her willingness to use her influential platform to spotlight the atrocities faced by Christians in Nigeria. In her response, Minaj expressed her deep appreciation for the opportunity to address such a critical issue, emphasizing her commitment to standing against injustice alongside her fans, known as “the Barbz.”
The focus on Nigeria’s Christian persecution comes at a time when the country has been plagued by violence, particularly from Islamist groups like Boko Haram. Despite the Nigerian government’s claims that the violence is not solely directed at Christians—pointing out that moderate Muslims and non-religious individuals have also been victims—advocacy groups like Open Doors categorize Nigeria as the seventh most dangerous country for Christians. They report that more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined, with the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law estimating over 52,000 Christians have been killed since the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009. The U.S. government has taken notice, with former President Donald Trump designating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” and threatening military action if the Nigerian government fails to address the escalating violence.
This collaboration between a political figure and a cultural icon highlights the urgent need for global attention on this humanitarian crisis. Minaj’s own reflections on faith, which she credits for guiding her through tough times in her career, add a personal dimension to the cause. As this partnership unfolds, it promises to bring much-needed visibility to the plight of Christians in Nigeria and could potentially influence policy discussions surrounding international human rights and religious freedom. The upcoming address is not just a moment of advocacy; it represents a powerful convergence of music, politics, and faith in the fight against persecution.
In a collaboration no one saw coming, United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz and rapper
Nicki Minaj
are teaming up this week to spotlight Christian persecution in Nigeria.
Revealing himself as a fan of the ‘Super Bass’ singer, Waltz deemed Minaj “arguably the greatest female recording artist.” Waltz said on X: “I’m grateful she’s leveraging her massive platform to spotlight the atrocities against Christians in Nigeria, and I look forward to standing with her as we discuss the steps the President and his administration are taking to end the persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters.”
Minaj replied: “Ambassador, I am so grateful to be entrusted with an opportunity of this magnitude. I do not take it for granted. It means more than you know. The Barbz & I will never stand down in the face of injustice. We’ve been given our influence by God. There must be a bigger purpose.”
POPE LEO XIV CALLS OUT CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION AMID LATEST MASSACRE OF CIVILIANS IN AFRICAN NATION
The address, first reported by Time Magazine correspondent Eric Cortellessa, will take place on Tuesday in New York.
Years of bloodshed in Africa’s most populous nation has only recently garnered widespread attention in the U.S., with President
Donald Trump
threatening military action if the Nigerian government cannot get a handle on violent Islamist groups.
While the government disputes that Christians are specifically targeted — pointing out that non-religious and moderate Muslims have fallen victim too —
Christian advocacy group Open Doors
deems Nigeria the seventh most dangerous country in the world for Christians and says, “more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined.”
“Terrorists attack all who reject their murderous ideology — Muslims, Christians, and those of no faith alike,” the office of the Nigerian presidency wrote on X.
TRUMP DESIGNATES NIGERIA AS ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’ OVER WIDESPREAD CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION, KILLINGS
The nation is home to 100 million Christians and various human rights groups claim that 50,000 have been killed since the beginning of a Boko Haram insurgency in 2009.
Numbers are difficult to verify, but the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law reports at least 52,000 Christians have been killed, some 18,500 abducted and unlikely to have survived, and 20,000 churches and Christian schools attacked between 2009 and 2023.
Trump this month designated Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’ – putting it among the likes of China, Iran, Russia and North Korea – and tasked Reps. Riley Moore,
R-W.Va
., and Tom Cole, R-Okla., with leading an investigation into what they call Christian “genocide.”
In a video on Truth Social this month, Trump threatened to “do things to Nigeria that Nigeria is not going to be happy about” and “go into that now-disgraced country guns-a-blazing.”
Minaj has said that during hard financial times early in her music career, she considered giving up for a 9-to-5 but “faith” got her through.
“[Faith is] what’s always got me through. My mother kept me in church when I was younger, so I never really strayed far from that in terms of my belief and my faith and my drive,” she said in a
discussion on Fuse TV
with Matte Babbel.
