American rapper, Nicki Minaj has said her pastor is Nigerian, explaining that this personal link is part of the reason she has been speaking out about the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

Minaj made the remarks on Saturday at an X Takeover event held at Tesla’s Giga Texas facility in Austin, Texas. She said “my pastor is from Nigeria”, which gave her a connection to the country, and noted that she also has a large Nigerian following among her fans, known as the Barbz.

According to her, what pushed her to speak publicly was what she described as the brutality faced by Christians in Nigeria simply because of their faith, and she questioned why the issue was not getting more attention.

The rapper called on other celebrities and social media influencers to join the cause and use their platforms to draw attention to the situation. She also said she looks forward to doing more to support it.

The comments are not her first on the subject. In December 2025, she spoke about her Nigerian pastor in a conversation with Erika Kirk at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, where she pledged to speak up for Christians wherever they are in the world. She had earlier addressed a United Nations related event in New York, where she alleged that Christians in Nigeria were being targeted and driven from their homes.

The Nigerian government has previously rejected claims of genocide or systematic persecution of Christians in the country. Minaj’s latest video has drawn reactions from Nigerians on social media, with many focusing on her mention of a Nigerian pastor.

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