As some music stars don red horns and flirt with satanic imagery for shock value, one rapper has emerged as an unlikely defender of religious liberty and Christianity on the world stage: Nicki Minaj.
Speaking at an event hosted by the United States Mission to the United Nations on Tuesday, November 18, Minaj brought global attention to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, where researchers say more followers of Jesus Christ “are killed for their faith than in the rest of the world combined.”
Religious Liberty Rapper
Islamic militant groups, including Fulani militants, Boko Haram, and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province), have launched “shockingly brutal” attacks against Christians across Nigeria, according to the watchdog group Open Doors.
Over 16.2 million Christians in the African region, including Nigeria, have been displaced by the violence, as faithful men and women are killed, kidnapped, and raped. To further destabilize local Christians, the militants have also destroyed homes, churches, and livelihoods.
To put it plainly: The humanitarian disaster unfolding in Nigeria is genocide in slow motion.
Upon hearing about the atrocities, Minaj said she couldn’t stay silent, so she joined forces with US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz to bring global attention to the terror campaign.
“In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes and killed. Churches have been burned. Families have been torn apart and entire communities live in fear constantly, simply because of how they pray,” Minaj said during her speech at the UN, adding that the issue “demands urgent action” from world leaders before the crisis gets worse.
Minaj also thanked President Donald Trump for helping “to bring a stop to violence for those who simply want to exercise their natural right to freedom of religion or belief.” And, speaking directly to her fans known as “Barbz,” Minaj explained that her message was not political posturing but moral conviction.
“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. I will care if anyone, anywhere, is being persecuted for their beliefs,” Minaj added.
Off-Base Outrage
Predictably, the outrage mob grabbed its torches and pitchforks and attacked Minaj for teaming up with the Trump administration. Some insulted her intelligence, while others questioned her religious convictions: “Her songs are filthy so is she even a Christian?” one X user wrote.
Obviously, only squeaky-clean people are allowed to care about religious freedom – a brilliant rule, as written by your affectionate Uncle Screwtape, if the goal is to keep everyone silent.
But Minaj has spoken about her faith far longer than her critics have paid attention. In an interview with Matte Babbel on Fuse TV, Minaj said she was ready to give up on her music career, but her faith in God kept her pushing forward.
“[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,” Minaj said.
Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Minaj was about five years old when her family moved to Queens, New York. The aspiring performer wrote her first rap song when she was 12 and later caught the attention of rapper Lil Wayne. In 2009, Minaj signed with Wayne’s label, Young Money Entertainment, and just one year later, she earned her first Grammy nomination.
Of course, her music isn’t exactly Sunday-school material. With song lyrics like “when he give me that look, then the panties comin’ off” and “b-tches ain’t sh-t and they ain’t saying nothing,” Minaj never claimed to be a saint.
But here’s what critics forget: The Bible has a long list of prominent figures who could easily earn the same scorn that Minaj does today. David committed adultery, Rahab was a prostitute, Paul was a Pharisee who persecuted Christians, Peter denied Jesus three times, Zacchaeus was a tax collector who was known for cheating – the list goes on and on.
America’s Founding Fathers, who enshrined the freedom of religion in the First Amendment, were also far from perfect. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson owned slaves, and both Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin committed infidelity.
Every Christian knows that God loves using imperfect people to make an impact. As such, American history and the Bible are full of unlikely champions. Minaj fits the pattern perfectly.
