Singer Niniola Mourns the Loss of Her Husband, Michael Ndika

Nigerian Afro-house singer, Niniola Apata, has announced the tragic passing of her husband, Michael Ndika. The Grammy-nominated music star shared the heartbreaking news in a series of deeply emotional posts on her Instagram Stories in the early hours of Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

In her raw and grieving posts, which included photos of the couple together, Niniola expressed her shock and sorrow over their sudden separation. "God took him," she wrote in her first post. She followed it up with a stark second message: "My husband died." In a third, agonized post, she highlighted the length of their journey together, writing: "God took him. 13 years. 13 f***ing years."

Before his passing, Michael Ndika—often known in the industry as Big Mike—served as Niniola's manager and was the Chief Executive Officer of NaijaReview, a multimedia platform dedicated to promoting Afro-house and contemporary African music.

The exact circumstances and cause surrounding his death have not been disclosed. True to her reputation, the 39-year-old "Maradona" hitmaker has always kept her marital and private life strictly out of the public eye and away from social media scrutiny. Following the announcement, an outpouring of grief, shock, and condolences has flooded social media from fans, colleagues, and industry heavyweights supporting the singer during this difficult time.

Please share your condolences and thoughts for Niniola and her family in the comments below.

Share to: