Niniola Apata, the Nigerian songstress, has spoken about the influence Michael Ndika, her late husband, had on her music career, describing him as the “engine” behind her success.
The tribute came during a service of songs held on June 4 in
honour of Ndika, whose death was announced on May 20.
The circumstances surrounding his passing remain
undisclosed. Burial arrangements released last week included the service of
songs followed by internment scheduled for Friday.
In a now-viral video from the event, Niniola offered an
intimate portrait of a man she said defined her daily existence.
According to the singer, Ndika discovered her before she had
found her footing in the industry. She
revealed that her late husband “met me raw and made me a superstar”.
“I met him and fell in love with him. We did stuff before I
even dropped the first single. My story with Michael is a long story,” she
said.
“Michael did everything for me. He was breathing for me. He
loved me so much. And I learnt so much from Michael. He showed me the ropes. I
got to meet his friends. Because, naturally, I am a loner. I love being alone.
“When Michael met me raw, he said ‘I will make you a
superstar’. And he did. I was just the face and the voice, but Michael was the
engine.”
Niniola said the talent manager had encouraged her to
continue making music even when she considered stepping away.
“Even when I decided to give music a break, he did not let
me,” she added.
“The first person I saw in the morning was Michael. And the
last person before I close my eyes was Michael. He was the best thing that ever
happened to me.”
Ndika was the CEO of NaijaReview, a multimedia platform
focused on Afro-house and African music.
Niniola rose to fame after emerging as the second runner-up
on the sixth season of Project Fame West Africa in 2013. She released her debut
single ‘Ibadi’ in 2014 and has since become one of Nigeria’s prominent music
stars.
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