By Muhammad Mamman
International rap superstar Nicki Minaj is stepping into a high-stakes foreign-policy spotlight. She has accepted an invitation from the Mike Waltz, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, to participate in discussions on religious persecution — specifically addressing what the U.S. has described as the “killing of Christians” in Nigeria.
The invitation came after Minaj weighed in publicly on the situation in Nigeria, in response to remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump who designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” for alleged persecution of Christians. In her social-media message, Minaj wrote: “No group should ever be persecuted for practising their religion. We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other.”
During his pointed denunciation, President Trump claimed that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria” and warned that the U.S. “cannot stand by” while what he called mass killings take place. He also threatened to suspend aid to Nigeria and hinted at possible military intervention unless the violence subsides.
Nigeria’s government has rejected the characterization of the violence as being directed solely at Christians, stressing that the security crisis affects people of many faiths and regions.
Minaj’s move bridges celebrity activism and international diplomacy at a moment of acute tension. Ambassador Waltz praised her for “using your platform to speak out in defence of the Christians being persecuted in Nigeria.” Minaj responded simply: “I’d be honoured. Thank you, Ambassador.”
How this intervention by a pop-culture figure will factor into the broader geopolitical narrative remains uncertain — but one thing is clear: Nicki Minaj is no longer just a musician; she’s stepping into the global arena of religious freedom, human rights and foreign-policy optics.
