International rap star Nicki Minaj has confirmed that her first name, Onika, has origins in the Igbo language of Nigeria.
Minaj revealed this while reacting to a fan post celebrating her recent appearance at the United Nations, where she spoke out against jihadist violence targeted at Christians in Nigeria. The fan claimed that “Onika,” a Trinidadian variation of the Igbo name Onyekachi, translates to “Who is greater than God”, suggesting the rapper was destined for purposeful advocacy.
In the post shared on X, the fan uploaded an image explaining the meaning of the name and its cultural variations, writing: “The name Onika means continued belief in a supreme being who holds ultimate authority and surpasses all others in greatness. Let my Nigerian Barbz and friends confirm how God destines someone for great things before they are even born!”
Responding to the message, Minaj confirmed the connection to Igbo heritage and added another intriguing detail about herself. “Will it get even more mysterious if I told you the tattoo on my arm means ‘God is with me’ in Chinese?” she wrote.
Her response has since sparked excitement among Nigerian fans, many of whom have long speculated about the meaning of her name.
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