Ahead of the release of the “Without You” EP, “Raining (O Dun Mi)” was released on August 14, gaining huge traction. The song offered an early glimpse into the grief and pain that would define the four-track project.
The EP was released in memory of her late husband, Michael Ndika, whom Niniola lost earlier this year, with the singer announcing his passing in May.
The tribute EP, captures her grief and the pain of losing her husband and how’s she’s been affected by it.
She’s been grieving him openly, and she has used her music to express herself so deeply.
In “Raining (O Dun Mi),” she cries out, “cause it’s raining, raining / Oh my heart is breaking, breaking / I just want my baby but they say he’s in a better place.”
The chorus, which also forms part of the song’s title, “O dun mi” translated from Yoruba means “it pains me” or “it hurts me.” That phrase becomes the emotional centre of the song.
The first track on the EP, “Pain,” is the most emotional of them all. Her voice sounds sad and even sounds cracked at some points. She’s almost giving a glimpse into what happened to her late husband.
There had been reports that Michael was ill before his death, but the details surrounding his illness have not been publicly established well enough to state them as fact. In “Pain,” however, Niniola recounts an experience at the hospital, singing about being told that her “baby” could no longer breathe.
She recounts the experience and how she felt about it, taking the listener from “happiness to sorrow.”
“Raining (O Dun Mi)” sounds like a softer version of “Pain.” This track is more relaxed, but she’s still passing her message very effectively. It is difficult to mistake the purpose of the song: it is about grief, loss and the pain of missing someone she loved.
“Teardrops” continues the story. She sings about how heartbreaking losing her husband has been for her, wishing he could come back. The EP’s cover, which features her eye with a teardrop rolling down her cheek, also reflects the project’s emotional weight.
“Somebody’s Baby” closes the EP. Left alone, she sings about the absence of her husband and the loneliness that comes with moving through life without him. She misses his presence, asking for his hands as she navigates life without him. She speaks about no longer having that physical presence and calling at night.
She prays to God for a miracle.
She sings in Yoruba across all four tracks, giving the project so much more depth and feel.
Listeners definitely get a fair share of Niniola’s pain and how deeply the loss of her husband has affected her. “Without You” is not simply a tribute to Michael, it’s Niniola allowing listeners into her grief and using music to say what she may not be able to use words to say explicitly.
