New York/London, November 24, 2025 – In a surprising linguistic pivot that blended British bravado with West African flair, veteran broadcaster Piers Morgan took to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, penning a message entirely in Igbo – one of Nigeria's three major languages – to pitch an interview with global rap icon Nicki Minaj. The exchange has exploded across social media, racking up millions of views in under 48 hours and shining an even brighter international spotlight on the escalating violence against Christian communities in Nigeria.
Morgan’s now-viral tweet, posted on November 23, read:
“Ọ dị m ezigbo mkpa! Anyị nwere ike ime ajụjụ ọnụ?”
(English translation: “It is very important to me! Can we do an interview?”)
The message was a direct quote-response to Nicki Minaj’s post from the previous day, in which the rapper playfully declared:
“And just like that, Piers has been given clearance to fly through Barb Airspace. The power of Nigeria. 🇳🇬 Naija Barbz, keep an eye on him…”
Minaj’s tweet, accompanied by a regal photo of herself, was widely interpreted as a tongue-in-cheek endorsement of Morgan’s recent aggressive coverage of the crisis in Nigeria, particularly after his heated on-air clash with Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar.
Nigerians online reacted with a mixture of shock, pride, and amusement at seeing the British presenter suddenly switch to Igbo. Comments ranged from “Piers don turn Igbo man overnight!” to “This man is serious o – he even got the tones right!” Many praised the gesture as a rare moment of cultural respect amid an otherwise grim and polarizing debate.
The light-hearted exchange, however, is rooted in a deeply serious and worsening crisis. Throughout 2025, Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern states have faced relentless waves of deadly attacks by Fulani militias, Boko Haram remnants, and armed bandit groups. Churches have been burned, worshippers gunned down during services, and entire villages razed. Recent incidents include the November 18 attack on St. John’s Anglican Church in Eruku, Kwara State, where gunmen killed two people and abducted eight others, and the kidnapping of over 300 schoolgirls from a Christian boarding school in Kaduna days earlier.
Nicki Minaj thrust herself into the spotlight on this issue on November 18 when she spoke at a high-profile panel at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations titled “Combatting Religious Violence and the Killing of Christians in Nigeria.” Introduced by President Donald Trump’s UN Ambassador, the rapper delivered an emotional speech condemning what she called the “slaughter” of innocent Christians and praising Trump’s tough stance, which has included threats to cut U.S. aid and even deploy American forces if the violence continues unchecked.
Just days later, Piers Morgan hosted Nigeria’s Foreign Minister on his show Piers Morgan Uncensored in an interview that quickly turned combative. Morgan repeatedly challenged the minister on the death toll and accused the government of downplaying the religious dimension of the attacks. The minister insisted the violence is primarily driven by land and resource disputes exacerbated by climate change, not faith-based persecution, and accused Western media of selective reporting. The full episode has since been viewed millions of times and sparked fierce debate on both sides of the Atlantic.
Minaj’s subsequent tweet granting Morgan “clearance” through “Barb Airspace” was seen by many as a playful but powerful co-sign of his coverage, especially among her massive Nigerian fanbase, affectionately known as the Naija Barbz. Morgan’s decision to respond in Igbo was widely viewed as both a savvy media move and a genuine attempt to connect with Nigerian audiences on their own terms.
The broader context remains dire. Advocacy organizations report that thousands of Christians have been killed in Nigeria this year alone, with some estimates placing the 2024–2025 death toll among the highest of any country for faith-based violence. Successive Nigerian administrations have been accused of inadequate response, while victims’ families and church leaders continue to plead for international intervention.
Despite the controversy, Morgan’s Igbo tweet has been hailed by many Nigerians as a masterstroke of cultural diplomacy. Comedians, influencers, and everyday users have flooded timelines with memes, voice notes, and skits celebrating “Uncle Piers” suddenly speaking their language. Some have even jokingly invited him to join WhatsApp groups or attend an owambe party.
As of publication, Nicki Minaj has not yet responded directly to Morgan’s interview request, but the Naija Barbz are actively campaigning for it to happen, with hashtags like #NickiAndPiersForNigeria trending across African Twitter spheres.
In an era where celebrity activism is often dismissed as performative, this unlikely alliance between a Trinidadian-American rap superstar and a British tabloid veteran-turned-broadcaster has managed to keep one of the world’s most underreported humanitarian crises firmly in the global conversation.
Whether the interview ultimately takes place or not, one thing is clear: for a brief, surreal moment, Igbo became the language of international advocacy — and Piers Morgan became, in the eyes of millions of amused and grateful Nigerians, “one of us.”
