Nicki Minaj, Cardi B embrace Nigerian culture to connect with fans

As the Nigerian music industry takes centre stage, numerous international artistes are eager to collaborate with local talents or immerse themselves in Nigerian culture. Notable among these artistes are Trinidadian rapper, Onika Maraj-Petty aka Nicki Minaj, and American singer, Belcalis Cephus, popularly known as Cardi B.
Both artistes have frequently expressed their admiration for Nigerian musicians and their sound. Recently, Nicki Minaj captured the attention of afrobeats fans when she took to social media to express her excitement over the presence of popular Nigerian music star, Tiwa Savage, at her concert. Initially star-struck, Nicki posted on X, asking, “Is that really her y’all, don’t play” Tiwa responded, confirming her attendance and sharing that she had an amazing time. Overwhelmed with joy, Nicki replied, “Wow, what an honour. Thank you for coming! Queen things.”
In addition to her rapport with Nigerian artistes, Nicki makes an effort to connect with her Nigerian audience by occasionally communicating in Pidgin English. In a recent X post, she wrote, “Go one day without lying abeg!” This prompted Nigerian fans to inquire about her familiarity with the language. To their surprise, she responded in Pidgin, “Wetin be the confusion? I Dey have eyes o? I can read all the pidgin weh una pikin de put on my timeline every day.”
On Cardi B’s side, she went viral for dressing and dancing like an Igbo woman in a lively video. Embracing the culture, she showcased her moves while wearing a traditional wrapper and matching headpiece
The singer has also made deliberate efforts to connect with her Nigerian fans, especially when she visited the country in 2019. This endeared her to her Nigerian fans who suggested different Nigerian names for her to take on so that she could properly identify with the culture. While some of her fans wanted her to take on the name, Chioma B, others suggested ‘Cadijat’. Seeking a way out of the confusion, Cardi B sought help in an X post on January 6, 2020, when she tweeted, “Let’s settle this once and for all, Chioma B or Cadijat?”
Despite being rivals in the American music scene, the friendly competition between Nicki and Cardi continues to spark lively debates among Nigerian fans about who reigns supreme.