Nigerian singer Niniola Apata has returned to the public eye for the first time since announcing the death of her husband, Michael Ndika, two months ago, prompting an outpouring of support from fans.
The Afro-house singer appeared in a video shared online earlier in July and again on Saturday, with many social media users commenting on her noticeably slimmer appearance and expressing concern for her wellbeing.
Although Niniola has yet to publicly address the comments about her appearance, several fans said they believed she was still grieving the loss of her husband.
In a series of Instagram Stories posted on Saturday, the singer shared a throwback photograph of herself and reflected on her late husband’s admiration for her appearance.
“Michael… Loved me thick.
“You always loved me to be thick,” she wrote.
In another post, Niniola spoke about the pain of losing her husband.
“You should be here…
“Here with me…
“Death visited me and tore me apart….
“Where do I start from?
“How do I navigate this new and unbelievable reality?” she wrote.
Fans responded with messages of sympathy and encouragement, urging the singer to remain strong during the mourning period.
Niniola announced her husband’s death in May through a series of emotional posts on her Instagram Stories.
“God took him,” she wrote in one post.
In another, she simply said, “My husband died.”
She later added: “God took him. 13 years. 13 fing years.”
The circumstances surrounding Ndika’s death have not been made public.
Ndika was the Chief Executive Officer of NaijaReview, a multimedia platform focused on Afro-house and contemporary African music.
Niniola, who has largely kept her personal life out of the spotlight, rose to prominence after competing in Project Fame West Africa in 2013. She gained wider recognition with the release of her hit single Maradona in 2017.
