Nigerian Afro-house singer, Niniola Apata is stepping back into the spotlight with a new single titled O Du Mi, marking her first major musical output since she announced the death of her husband, Michael Ndika, earlier this year. 

The Grammy-nominated artist, popularly known as the Queen of Afro-house, has spent much of 2026 largely out of public view as she grieved the loss of her partner of 13 years, and this new release signals what fans are calling the beginning of her gradual return to the industry she has shaped for over a decade.

Niniola’s husband, who also doubled as her longtime manager and co owner of her record label Drumroll Records, died in May, a loss she disclosed through a series of emotional posts on her Instagram story.

She had for years kept her marriage away from public knowledge, even denying rumours of being married as recently as October 2025, only for the truth to emerge in the most painful circumstances months later.

Ndika was also known in entertainment circles as the chief executive of NaijaReview, a multimedia platform dedicated to Afro-house and contemporary African music, and had been present at nearly every major milestone of her career since her debut.

In the weeks that followed, Niniola largely withdrew from the public eye, with fans expressing concern after she resurfaced looking visibly changed by grief.

Her occasional social media posts hinted at a woman still processing profound loss, often reflecting on the role her husband played in shaping her into the star she became. Despite the heartbreak, those close to her have described her as gradually finding her footing again, and the announcement of O Du Mi appears to be a marker of that emotional journey.

Niniola’s career has been defined by boldness and reinvention since she first broke into the Nigerian music scene through Project Fame West Africa in 2013. She followed that with her debut single Ibadi in 2014, before her 2017 hit Maradona catapulted her to international recognition, earning airplay across Africa, admiration from global stars including Drake, Timbaland and Beyoncé, and eventual platinum certification in South Africa.

She has since built a reputation as one of Nigeria’s most consistent hitmakers, releasing acclaimed projects such as her debut album This Is Me, the R&B leaning EP 6th Heaven, and her most recent studio album Press Play in 2024.

With O Du Mi, Niniola appears set to reclaim her space on the airwaves while carrying with her the memory of the man who first believed in her talent and helped build her into the artist she is today. Fans across social media have already begun sending messages of support, welcoming her back to music even as they continue to hold space for her grief.