(OPINION) Popular mainstream artist M.I.A. says she became a born-again Christian after having a vision of Jesus Christ, and it’s something she’s proud of even if it may cost her her career.
In a conversation with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, M.I.A., born Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam, revealed that a vision of Jesus Christ in 2017 turned her world upside down. The vision of Jesus convinced the “Paper Planes” singer to become a Christian despite years of pushing back against tradition.
“Since then, my head has been in a totally different place. Being a Tamil and being a Hindu, I was very comfortable that I’d arrived finding myself. Which is, I think, going to be weird for America to process,” she told Lowe of her divine vision. “But I had a vision and I saw the vision of Jesus Christ.”
“It’s very creatively a crazy thing because it turned my world upside down,” she continued. “Because everything I thought and believed was no longer the case. And I think that was maybe a sign that something major was going to happen in the world and that people were needing to be introduced to this concept.”
In 2006 M.I.A. was banned from entering the U.S. for a time due to her controversial lyrics and her alleged support for a Sri Lankan guerrilla group called the Tamil Tigers. In the U.S., the group is regarded as a terrorist organization. She revealed on the Apple podcast that before her vision, she found the concept of Christianity to be “basic.”
Lowe then interjected, asking her if she is a “born-again Christian now.” The artist responded, “Yes, I am.” Born in London and of Sri Lankan Tamil descent, M.I.A. was raised Hindu. Throughout her career, she has advocated for refugees and Palestinians living in Israel’s West Bank. FULL REPORT
