Niniola Finds Her Way Back to Music After Husband’s Death

Niniola returns to music with O Du Mi, a deeply personal single inspired by love, loss and healing after her husband Michael Ndika’s death.

Nigerian Afro-house singer Niniola Apata is returning to music on Friday, August 14, 2026, with a new single titled O Du Mi, months after the death of her husband, Michael Ndika, in May.

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The release marks Niniola’s first major musical project since Ndika’s death and comes after a difficult period in which the singer has publicly reflected on grief, loss and the sudden change in her life.

Niniola announced the song through emotional social media posts, describing it as an outlet for feelings that she found difficult to express in words.

“Some feelings are too deep for words. So I put them in a song,” she wrote while sharing a preview of the record.

The singer also said she believed Ndika would have wanted her to continue making music despite the pain of losing him.

“There are no words for a moment like this, but I know he’d want me to keep singing, to keep showing up, and to keep sharing the gift we’ve always believed in,” she said.

Ndika was not only Niniola’s husband but also her longtime manager and business partner. The couple had been married for 13 years before his death at the age of 44.

Niniola has previously spoken about the profound role he played in both her personal life and career.

She described him as her best friend, confidant, pillar and business partner, while recalling how strongly he believed in her musical ability.

In June, the singer revealed that Ndika had encouraged her to remain in music at a time when she had considered stepping away.

According to Niniola, he believed in her talent and was determined to help her become a successful artist.

His death on May 19 came as a devastating blow to the singer. Niniola announced the loss through a series of emotional messages, initially keeping details of his death private.

Two months later, she spoke more openly about the experience of becoming a widow at a relatively young age.

“Nothing ever prepared me for the reality of becoming a young widow,” she wrote in July, describing Ndika as her husband, business manager and best friend.

Her gradual return to the public eye has therefore been closely tied to her grieving process.

The release of O Du Mi appears to offer another way for the singer to process that loss, this time through the music that has defined much of her career.

The new record explores themes of love, loss and emotional healing, giving the song a deeply personal significance beyond Niniola’s usual high-energy Afro-house sound.

For an artist whose career has been shaped by songs such as Maradona and Designer, the new release represents a different kind of musical moment.

Rather than simply marking another entry in her discography, O Du Mi reflects an artist attempting to find her voice again after a profound personal loss.

Niniola’s return does not suggest that the grieving process is over. Instead, it signals her willingness to continue creating while carrying the memory of someone who played a central role in both her life and career.

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With O Du Mi scheduled for release on August 14, the singer is beginning a new chapter, one shaped by heartbreak but also by the determination to keep singing.