Niniola mourns husband’s death, reveals 13-year secret marriage

Nigerian Afro-house singer Niniola Apata has announced the death of her husband, Michael Ndika, a digital music executive, in an emotional revelation that also disclosed a private marriage the artist had kept away from public view for over a decade.

The singer shared the news in a series of brief but deeply emotional posts on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, leaving fans and colleagues in shock across the entertainment industry.

“God took him,” she wrote in her first post. She followed with a second message, “My husband died,” before adding a more anguished reflection: “God took him. 13 years. 13 f***ing years.”

The posts marked the first public acknowledgment of a marriage that, according to the singer, lasted 13 years but was never previously disclosed to the public.

The late Michael Ndika, who served as Chief Executive Officer of NaijaReview, a digital entertainment platform focused on Afro-house and Afrobeats promotion, was known within industry circles as a low-profile music executive. A graduate of Computer Science from Lagos State University, he worked behind the scenes in music distribution and digital media strategy.

Niniola, 39, had carefully maintained separation between her public career and private life throughout her rise in the music industry. Despite persistent speculation over the years, she consistently avoided confirming any romantic relationship.

As recently as October 2025, during a radio interview on Yanga FM Lagos, she dismissed ongoing rumours about her marital status, insisting her focus remained on her career and music.

The announcement has triggered widespread reactions from fans, fellow musicians, and industry stakeholders, many of whom expressed disbelief both at Ndika’s passing and the revelation of a long-concealed marriage.

Niniola rose to prominence as a finalist on Project Fame West Africa in 2013 and has since become one of Nigeria’s most recognisable Afro-house voices. She gained international attention with her 2017 hit Maradona and later contributed to Beyoncé’s The Lion King: The Gift album, further cementing her global profile.

As of press time, the cause of Michael Ndika’s death has not been disclosed, and representatives for the singer have yet to issue an official statement.

Messages of condolence have continued to pour in for the singer and her family, including her younger sister, fellow artist Teni, as the music community rallies around them during what has become a deeply private but widely felt moment of grief.