Tonto Dikeh

Tonto Charity Dikeh// ⓘ (born 9 June 1985) is a Nigerian actress, singer,[1] songwriter, and humanitarian.[2] On 27 August 2000, Tonto Dikeh set up her foundation, "The Tonto Dikeh Foundation".[3]

Tonto Dikeh
Born
Tonto Charity Dikeh

(1985-06-09) 9 June 1985
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Other names
  • Poko
  • Tontolet
  • Mama King
  • King Tonto
Alma materRivers State University of Science and Technology
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • philanthropist
Years active2006–present
Notable work
  • Missing Rib
  • Games Fools Play
  • A Night with the King
  • Zara
Political partyAfrican Democratic Congress
Spouse
Oladunni Churchill
​
​
(m. 2015; div. 2017)​
Children1
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2011–2017
LabelsPoko Entertainment
Websitewww.tontodikehent.com

In June 2022, Tonto was announced as the deputy governorship candidate under the African Democratic Congress in the 2023 Rivers State gubernatorial election.[4][5][6][7][8] She was welcome by port Harcourt people after her declaration as deputy.[9]

Movies and television

Tonto Dikeh was featured in a movie titled Dirty Secret, which generated controversy among Nigerians due to its inclusion of adult scenes. While some people criticized her role for being nontraditional and un-African, others stated that Dikeh was merely being professional.[10][11]

Music career

Following a successful acting career, Tonto Dikeh decided to pursue a music career. Before that, she was featured in a music video for Amaco Investments, alongside Patience Ozokwor.[12] She made her music debut by releasing the singles "Hi" and "Itz Ova", the latter of which features Snypa.[13][14] On 13 June 2014, Nigerian singer D'banj signed her to his record label, DB Records.[15] Tonto Dikeh announced her departure from DB records in March 2015.[16]

Personal life

Tonto Dikeh was born into a family of seven and is the third of five children. Her family is from Obio-Akpor, a LGA in Rivers State, and is of Ikwerre descent.[17][18] At age 3, she lost her mother and was raised by her step-mother, who has two children.[19] Dikeh studied petrochemical engineering at Rivers State University of Science and Technology.[20] In September 2021, Tonto Dikeh's ex-fiancé, Prince Joseph Kpokpogri, sued her and the Department of State Security (DSS) to court for allegedly threatening his fundamental human rights.[21] Kpokpogri said he left Tonto because of her hard smoking and bad drinking habit.[22]

Controversy

Her traditional marriage to Olakunle Churchill was held in August 2015. In 2014, she was rumored to have been in a sexual relationship with Rukky Sanda. However, during an interview with Rukky Sanda the rumour was debunked. In February 2016, Dikeh gave birth to her son, whom she nicknamed Baby X.[23] However, since then, the couple has gone and moved different ways.[24]

Dikeh had in early October 2021 entangled herself in a web of controversy after publishing in her social media handles, purported voice notes suggesting that her ex-lover, JOSEPH EGBRI (popularly known as Prince Kpokpogri) had sex tapes and nude photos on his smartphone of Usiwo Orezimena Jane, a Nigerian dancer, popularly known as JANEMENA. Dikeh was reported to have made the allegations in the wake of her messy breakup with her ex-lover, Kpokpogri, in September.[25]

Endorsements

On 5 February 2016, Tonto Dikeh was named an Ambassador to a property firm in Abuja (NUMATVILLE) worth millions of Naira.[26]

On 9 January 2018, Tonto Dikeh gets an endorsement as a brand ambassador for a beauty and skincare brand (Pels International). The beauty brand is popularly known for making skin brightening beauty products.[27]

On 8 March 2018, Dikeh became an ambassador for Sapphire Scents, a new perfume line offering distributorship business opportunities to Nigerians.[28]

On 27 April 2018, Tonto Dikeh bagged an endorsement deal with the National Agency For Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) on human trafficking.[29]

On 24 March 2019, Tonto Dikeh was revealed as the brand ambassador for Amstel Malta. This had happened when Tonto Dikeh stepped out in style for a dinner party organized by Amstel Malta. The dinner, organized specifically for brand influencers, saw Dikeh announced as one of its ambassadors.[30]

On 23 May 2019, Tonto Dikeh signed a 100million Naira endorsement deal with Zikel Cosmetics.[31]

Selected singles
TitleYearRef
"Hi"2012[32]
"Itz Ova"
"Crazically Fit" (featuring Terry G)[33]
"Jeje"2013[34]
"Sheba" (featuring Solid Star)[35]
"Ekebe"2014[36]
"Sugar Rush" (featuring D'banj)2015[37]

Selected filmography
  • Tea or Coffee (2006)
  • Pounds and Dollars (2006)
  • Missing Rib (2007)
  • Final Hour (2007)
  • Divine Grace (2007)
  • 7 Graves (2007)
  • Crisis in Paradise (2007)
  • Insecurity (2007)
  • Away Match (2007)
  • Games Fools Play (2007)
  • The Plain Truth (2008)
  • Love my Way (2008)
  • Before the Fall (2008)
  • Total Love (2008)
  • Strength to Strength (2008)
  • Missing Child (2009)
  • Native Son (2009)
  • Dangerous Beauty (2009)
  • My Fantasy (2010)
  • Zara
  • Dirty Secret (2010)
  • Last Mission
  • Blackberry Babes Re-loaded (2012)
  • Secret Mission
  • Rush Hour
  • Fatal Mistake
  • Family Disgrace
  • Miss Maradonna
  • Mortal Desire
  • Criminal Widow 1
  • Criminal Widow 2 (2013)
  • Then Terror of a Widow 1 (2013)
  • Then Terror of a Widow 2 (2013)
  • Battle of the Queens (2014)
  • Throne of War (2014)

See also

References
  1. Trin, Mercy (26 February 2022). "Kayanmata: Amidst criticisms, actress Tonto Dikeh issues out a public statement". Kemi Filani News. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  2. "ABOUT TONTO DIKEH". Archived from the original on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  3. "Tonto Dikeh Foundation". today.ng. today.ng. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  4. Olowolagba, Fikayo (24 June 2022). "Yul Edochie reacts as Tonto Dikeh emerges ADC deputy governorship candidate". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  5. "Rivers ADC gov candidate nominates Tonto Dikeh as running mate". Punch Newspapers. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  6. "ADC Nominates Tonto Dikeh As Deputy Governorship Candidate For Rivers". Channels Television. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  7. "Tonto Dikeh emerges running mate to Rivers ADC governorship candidate - Premium Times Nigeria". 24 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  8. "Tonto Dikeh heads to Government House | The Nation". The Nation Newspaper. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  9. Trin, Mercy (25 July 2022). "Tonto Dikeh receives a grand welcome as she storms River State for her political campaign (Video)". Kemi Filani News. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  10. "Nigeria: Nollywood Splits Over Tonto Dike". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  11. "Nigerian celebrities and Tattooing". The Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. 6 January 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  12. "Tonto Dikeh life history and profile, Playing music with Patience Ozokwor". Anambra fashion week. 22 January 2012.
  13. "World Premiere Tonto Dikeh". Too Xclusive.
  14. "Tonto Dike needs to learn how to sing". Nigeria films.
  15. "D'banj Finally Unveils DB Records Lee Family". Joints Arena.
  16. "Tonto Dike Leaves D'banj's Record Label". Naija Loaded.
  17. "Tonto Dikeh". Naij.com – Nigeria news. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  18. "Actress Tonto Dikeh Full Biography Life And News – How Nigeria". How Nigeria. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  19. "Photos – Tonto Dikeh Shares Late Mum, Step Mother & Dad". MJ Celebrity Magazine. Retrieved 24 October 2016..
  20. "Ten things you may not know about Tonto Dikeh - Premium Times Nigeria". 20 October 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  21. "Tonto Dikeh's estranged lover, Prince Kpokpogri drags DSS, actress to court over threat to fundamental rights". TonyGutsy. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  22. "Your hard smoking and heavy drinking made us break-up, Kpokpogri claps back at Tonto Dikeh". Punch Newspapers. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  23. "Actress welcomes first child, releases maternity photos". Pulse Nigeria. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  24. "Actress reveals sadness over her relationship with husband, Churchill, in an interview with OAP Daddy Freeze". TonyGutsy. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  25. "Popular dancer, Janemena, petitions police over Tonto Dikeh's cyberstalking, defamation". 11 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  26. "Property firm appoints Tonto Dikeh as brand ambassador". Inemesit Udodiong. 24 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  27. "Tonto Dikeh Gets Endorsement Deal With Beauty Brand". mystatenews. mystatenews. 24 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  28. "Tonto Dikeh Becomes Sapphire Scents Brand Ambassador". Naija Gists. 24 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  29. "Tonto Dikeh bags endorsement deal". Kemifilani. Kemifilani. 24 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  30. "Tonto Dikeh Revealed As Amstel Malta New Brand Ambassador". Plat4om. Plat4om. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  31. "Tonto Dikeh bags N100m deal with Zikel cosmetics". Oak TV Newstrack. Oak Tv. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  32. "Tonto Dikeh – Itz Ova + Hi". 17 October 2012.
  33. "Single Premiere: Tonto Dikeh ft Terry G - Crazically Fit - 360Nobs.com".
  34. "Tonto Dikeh – JEJE". 28 February 2013.
  35. "Tonto Dikeh – Sheba ft Solidstar". 9 June 2013.
  36. "Tonto Dikeh premieres New Song "Ekebe" – Listen". 20 February 2014.
  37. "VIDEO: Tonto Dikeh – Sugar Rush ft. D'banj". 28 April 2015.
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