Tonto Dikeh

Posted: 2013-06-16

Category: People

She is controversial and lives a life full of inconsistencies; from the tattoo on her back, her music, roles in movies to her involvement in other peoples’ affairs; and whether you believe it or not, she is the most controversial actress who rocked Nollywood in the outgoing year. A product of Next Movie Star, Tonto Dikeh since she hit the limelight a few years ago has never seized to be at the centre of controversy.

Tonto Dikeh was born on June 9, 1985 of Ikwerre descent, Rivers State and comes from a family of seven.

A onetime engineering student of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, she competed against other contestants on a reality TV show called The Next Movie Star where she emerged as the first runner up in 2005. Dikeh’s appearance on the show was as a means of getting closer to the “big time”, she says, and her start in the Nigerian movie industry came soon after.

Dikeh says that after her second movie Holy Cross, more movie directors and producers were willing to cast her, and she has appeared in scores of movies since. Her role in the movie Dirty Secret has generated controversy amongst Nigerians, because the movie contains nude scenes. While some criticize her role of being untraditional and un-African, others say that Dikeh is merely being professional.

In January 2011 Dikeh took part in a charity fashion show in Lagos with Banky W., Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and others.

Tonto was known in Nollywood as a chain smoker and had started smoking since the age of 14 but she recently testified that she stopped smoking after prayers with Pastor T.B. Joshua via his Christian television station Emmanuel TV.

Her controversial lifestyle became more glaring in 2012 judging from most of her unbecoming exploits. After the noise generated by her new tattoo last year, Tonto continued with her ‘wild lifestyle’, stepping on people’s toes and damning her critics. Her newly released singles, Hi and Itz Ova, did not help matters even though the singles became two of the most listened and downloaded tracks, with over 500,000 views.

Dikeh, who joined the bandwagon of other actors who succumbed to the moonlighting itch to delve into music, was lampooned and criticised by her fans for the uninspiring singles. Yet, she was not deterred. While she was battling to find her feet in the music circle, her foes romantically linked her to the Kukere crooner, Iyanya who squealers said was seeing Ghanaian leggy actress, Yvonne Nelson. For Iyanya and Tonto Dikeh it was all about who has left who for whom.

However, this whole saga began when Yvonne Nelson took to the internet to vent her feelings after Iyanya dumped her for Tonto Dikeh. The drama continued unabated until Tonto Dikeh replied Yvonne’s tweet and the two actresses took their rivalry to Blackberry messenger (BBM) where they threw ‘nasty’ insults at each other.

Tonto Dikeh also opened on her past relationship with music producer Don Jazzy.

The songstress said she dated Don Jazzy in the past. The actress was rumoured to be dating music star Ayo Balogun aka Wizkid but she debunked the rumour as ridiculous.

She also spoke at length on her controversial music career and how she is coping with controversies her songs are generating; the sultry actress had been lashed for producing what many believe was totally below standard. Musicians such as Burna Boy and Baba Dee also described the songs as total rubbish.

On why she branched into music, Tonto Dikeh said:

“Like I said, I’m used to it; it actually strengthens me. You know when you actually accept what you do and love what you do, you do it to the best of your abilities. Nothing out there or nobody can change that”.

There is also no doubt that since the picture of a tattoo on her back, Tonto Dikeh was posted online, it has generated lots of controversies both within and outside the country.

Many tongues have wagged on the controversial tattoo. Different meanings have been read into the piece. For some, the tattoo depicts some undertone of the devil, while others see no diabolic meaning to the creature created in the tattoo but just a piece of fashion.

The controversial happy queen of Nollywood, who has grown a thick skin to most abusive writings and comments directed at her, has finally come out to talk on what the meaning of the creature drawn on her back carries.

According to Tonto, “the tattoo took me 10 hours to be done with, while I had a two hour break in-between.”

Speaking further, when asked if the controversial tattoo had any undertone meaning, she simply answered, “yes, and it is very deep, I am a witch.”

By and large she seem to soar as the controversies rages, making her more popular. She might have all the trappings of a care free girl, but that in no way detract from her acting which she handles like the professional she is and had brought her the fame she enjoys in the first place.