NEW YORK (BN24)— Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj delivered an impassioned speech Tuesday at a United Nations conference in New York, urging global attention to allegations that Christians in Nigeria are being persecuted, displaced, and killed. Appearing alongside United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz, Minaj said the issue demanded urgent action and insisted her stance was rooted in justice rather than political allegiance.
Dressed in a form-fitting black gown, Minaj opened her remarks by admitting she felt “very nervous” before thanking Waltz and former U.S. President Donald Trump for raising concerns about violence against Christians in Nigeria. She said both had prioritized the matter and pressed for international efforts to protect religious freedom.
“Thank you, Ambassador Waltz, for this invitation,” she said. “It is an honor to stand on this stage with you and the other speakers here today to shine a spotlight on the deadly threat faced by thousands of Christians in Nigeria.” She continued by thanking Trump “for his leadership on the global stage” and for calling for urgent action to defend those who “simply want to exercise their natural right to freedom of religion or belief.”
Minaj used her global music career as a reference point, saying she has witnessed firsthand how people of all backgrounds are connected through art. She said that freedom of religion allows individuals to “sing our faith regardless of who we are, where we live and what we believe,” but warned that faith is “under attack in way too many places.”
The rapper described the situation in Nigeria as one in which Christians are “being targeted, driven from their homes, and killed,” with churches burned and families “torn apart.” She said communities were living in constant fear “simply because of how they pray.” She stressed that the concern extended beyond a single country, adding, “Sadly, this problem is not only a growing problem in Nigeria, but so many countries across the world, and it demands urgent action.”
Minaj emphasized repeatedly that her speech was not about political division. “I want to be clear, protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people,” she said. “It is about uniting humanity.”
She also used the moment to acknowledge her fans, known as The Barbz, and highlighted her longstanding support from Nigerian followers. “Nigeria is a beautiful nation with lots of beautiful Barbz that I can’t wait to see,” she said before thanking them for being “the ultimate light” in her life and career.
Addressing criticism of her recent expressions of support for Trump, Minaj said her stance was consistent with her lifelong values. “I want to make it clear once again, this isn’t about taking sides,” she said. “This is about standing up in the face of injustice. It’s about what I’ve always stood for my entire career, and I will continue to stand for that for the rest of my life.”
Her remarks came weeks after she amplified a Trump Truth Social post asserting that Christianity in Nigeria faced an “existential threat” and suggesting the nation could be considered for designation as a Country of Particular Concern. In that video message, Trump warned the U.S. would end all aid to Nigeria if the killings continued and said the country could become a target for direct American action against “Islamic Terrorists” responsible for violence.
Minaj’s appearance at the UN placed her voice among political and diplomatic figures advocating attention to the issue, framing her message as both a humanitarian appeal and a defense of religious liberty.
