Afro-House star Niniola loses husband Michael Ndika

Nigerian Afro-house singer Niniola Apata has announced the death of her husband, Michael Ndika, in a series of emotional posts shared on her Instagram story in the early hours of Wednesday.

The Grammy-nominated artiste broke the news in brief but painful messages, expressing grief over the passing of her husband, who was until his death the Chief Executive Officer of NaijaReview, a multimedia platform focused on Afro-house and contemporary African music.

In one of the posts, she wrote: “God took him.”

In another, she added: “My husband died.”

In a third message, she wrote: “God took him. 13 years. 13 f***ing years,” alongside photos of the couple.

The circumstances surrounding Ndika’s death have not yet been disclosed, as the singer—known for keeping her private life away from public attention—did not provide further details.

Niniola, 39, rose to prominence after finishing as a top contestant on Project Fame West Africa in 2013 and has since become one of Nigeria’s most recognisable music exports on the global stage.

Her 2017 hit single Maradona brought her international acclaim, earning attention from global music stars and producers, and cementing her place in the Afro-house and Afrobeats scene.

Tributes are expected to follow as fans and industry colleagues react to the sudden loss.