Tonto Charity Dikeh //ⓘ (born 9 June 1985) is a Nigerian actress, singer,[1] songwriter, and humanitarian.[2] On 27 August 2000, Dikeh set up her foundation, the Tonto Dikeh Foundation.[3]
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, 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] Dikeh announced her departure from DB records in March 2015.[16]
Personal life
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, south-south Nigeria 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 petrochemicalengineering 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) for allegedly threatening his fundamental human rights.[21] Kpokpogri said he left Tonto because of her hard smoking and bad
drinking habit.[22]
Controversy
In 2014, Dikeh was rumored to have been in a sexual relationship with Rukky Sanda. However, during an interview with Rukky Sanda the rumour was debunked.
Her traditional marriage to Olakunle Churchill was held in August 2015. In February 2016, Dikeh gave birth to their son, King, whom she nicknamed Baby X.[23] Dikeh's marriage to Churchill ended in 2017 amid accusations of infidelity and domestic abuse. [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 twerk 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, Dikeh was named an ambassador to a property firm in Abuja, Numatville, worth millions of Naira.[26]
On 9 January 2018, Dikeh received 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 24 March 2019, Dikeh was revealed as the brand ambassador for Amstel Malta. This had happened when 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, Dikeh signed a 100 million Naira endorsement deal with Zikel Cosmetics.[31]
