Singer Niniola Apata has announced the death of her husband, Michael Ndika.
The Grammy nominated artiste shared the news in a series of emotional posts on her Instagram Stories early Wednesday.
In one of the posts, she wrote, “God took him.”
In another, she added, “My husband died.”
A third post read, “God took him. 13 years. 13 f***ing years.”
Ndika was the chief executive officer of NaijaReview, a multimedia platform focused on afro house and contemporary African music.
The circumstances surrounding his death were not immediately disclosed. Niniola has largely kept her private life away from public attention and social media.
The 39-year-old rose to prominence after finishing as second runner up on the 2013 edition of Project Fame West Africa.
She gained wider recognition with her 2017 hit song Maradona, which received praise from international stars including DJ Snake, Drake, Timbaland and Beyoncé.
Niniola also received recognition for her contribution as a songwriter on Beyoncé’s 2019 soundtrack album The Lion King: The Gift, which earned Grammy nominations. She later joined the Recording Academy’s 2021 class.
Ndika was closely involved in parts of Niniola’s career and creative projects. He was credited as a writer on her 2023 single ‘All Eyes On Me’ and also directed the video for her 2024 song ‘Pepper Dem.’
