Interviews | 28 December 2011 00:14 CET

STAR ACTRESS TONTO DIKEH REVEALS HER TOP SECRETS TO NIGERIAFILMS.COM

Source: Osaremen Ehi James/Nollywoodgists.com

The name Tonto Dikeh is very synonymous in Nollywood to lots of controversies. Since her debut on our TV screen in 2006, where she was the first runner-up in The Next Movie Star TV reality, show she has always stayed high in the game through controversies.

In this interview with Osaremen Ehi James of NigeriaFilms.Com, this actress with a huge tattoo on her back revealed lots of her secrets to NigeriaFilms.Com and many other issues. Enjoy.

What made you organize a party for some exceptional children

The idea was brought to me by Seun Oloketuyi, and I appreciated it because it, made me reflect back on my childhood, when my dad always rewarded us after passing our exams. So I felt I should bring back that culture knowing that not all parents can reward their children. It is just a way to show that there are people out there who appreciate children who have passed their exams and would want to reward such children. For those who won scholarship or got gifts they would look forward to next year, and for those who couldn't make it, they would want to sit up in school to make it here next year.

Have you been doing this before

It is just very shameful that this is the first time I am doing this in Nigeria. I have been doing this ever since I became the known Tonto Dikeh, but secretly and not in Nigeria.

Why outside Nigeria before now

I don't need a crown to do good for my people, it is my heart. I always tell people something, I don't live my life for humans. The next man might condemn me, but the God I serve will not. I do what I do for Him and not humans. I don't care what people say about me. I could give 100 kids 100 scholarships, it won't shake me financially. i am doing it the way God directed me.

You are taking these children to the best schools, what happens with the school fees after the scholarship runs out, especially where such parents can't afford such

I have more plans for them. I provide a means for them or might continue the scholarship with the children.

How far would you go with the scholarship

I don't care how long I can continue this, as long as I have the grace, time and strength, I would continue it.

Why did you tag the children 'Exceptional Children'

I am not just gathering any kind of children to come celebrate with me. For my birthday, I did with the less privilege and I enjoyed it. Those I an targeting with this are those who did academically well in school.

So, what criteria were chosen for these kids

The kids here came 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in their schools.

Did you achieve your aim

Yes, I did.

You came into the industry, and within a short time, you were everywhere. What was the secret

I would say 'Right timing'. I came into the industry when people were craving for new faces and swag, I think I just gave it to them. That is it.

Do you think the many scandals and controversies written about have affected your career

First of all, scandals don't affect your career, which I can say because of my case. I am proud founder of that statement of fact that no scandal can affect your career. If you are good as a person, and if your career is good, it is good. What they write about you in papers doesn't matter. They write about your public and private life as they say, but I am who I am as an artiste, which I think I am doing excellently well.

But bad stories affect getting endorsement deals from various brands, has the bad stories not affected you in that respect

Did I forget to say that I was very special? I am not the rest or other artistes. No matter what is written about me, I still shine and put my head up high.

Have the brand endorsement deals coming to you or not

They are coming. But first of all, do I look hungry?

It is not about being hungry or not

I mean, I am just asking you

Are your scandals and controversies intentional for you to stay up and always be in the minds of the people

It is a gift

How

If I didn't possess the potentials I have today, nobody would talk about me or know me. Why I said it was a gift is because right from when I was in school, everything and everywhere I went was news. I have always known there was no way I would escape being controversial. But being controversial to the world was a new thing to me. I never planned for that. I wanted to simply be an Engineer, make the money I want to make from oil, be a tomboy and have a jolly good life. But these changed being an actress, I am really loving it though. I am not regretting it.

In all the bad stories written about you, which has hit you the most

Hmm, which has hit me the most? I think it was my very first controversy that I heard of myself. That was the only controversy that I heard and cried.

What story was that

I can't even remember what it was about, that is how funny it is. That was the controversy that made me really strong after reading it. It made me cry for a couple of time, but after then, I told myself that nobody worth my tears anymore, none of you (the press). I keep smiling through bad stories now.(general laughter)

Are now enjoying it

Of course I am having fun with all the news you are giving me, so much attention, I could die if you don't give me these attention. Please keep it up, I like it.

How about your intention of going into cosmetics

I am not going into cosmetics, I only thought of bringing out something when people wanted to know how I have been able to grow from a light skinned person to a white skinned lady. I didn't even know the gist was everywhere, it was meant to be very quiet. I just wanted to bring out my own product that would make them white, that is it. I am planning towards it, the money is huge, pray for me that I achieve it.

Do you have a name for it now

No, none for now.


In all the stories written about you, you have not come out to debunk any, would you want to tell your fans who you are dating

First of all, I am very busy to actually react to stories. Secondly, I don't think there is anyone out there that doesn't know the truth. I laugh sometimes when you (press) all write.

Do you laugh it off to ease tensions

Not at all, I am really waiting for someone to impress me.

How

You people should prove something to me. If say anything about me, please back it up with pictures. But things are just written about me without proves. Tonto is dating this person, where is the proof?

That Tonto has 57 tattoos

That is a reality and not a rumour. I said that, I counted my tattoos in front of a mirror, nobody did for me. What I am saying is when next you have a rumour about it, prove it, and make me proud. That is what I need from you guys.

What influenced your last tattoo

It was influenced by my spiritual conduct and personality, and it is private. That is much I can talk about it.

Are you spiritual

I know God and I pray to God, God makes me successful.

Your last tattoo generated lots of controversies, are u really a witch as reported in one of the stories

First of all, I didn't grant such interview. I am sorry, I might say what might upset you, but that is why I don't respect a lot of journalism, I am not saying journalists. I hope the people reading this will understand what I mean by journalism and journalists. I didn't not grant you an interview, if you wanted it that bad, you will have to beg for it or even burst for it but not forging it. If you are going to write about me, do it intelligently, if you are going to bring me down, do it also intelligently. But nothing so far has proven to worth my intelligence, so I just laugh about it.

To go on point with you, that statement was picked on your twitter handle

It wasn't, seriously, I don't think so. I heard it, and some people on twitter confronted me about it. Since I am very generous on twitter, I was telling some few people about it. I stopped talking about it when I learnt it was in the news that I am a witch.

Before that story, someone asked you on twitter if you were a witch, and you replied yes. That was where the story picked its root

Well, I am wondering who gave birth to that person to ask if I was a witch on twitter, what am I supposed to say. No? on twitter? No, if you want to play with my head, I play with yours.

Like I said earlier, that was where the story came from

That was not where the story came from. The story came before that time.

You have been tongue lashed because of your roles in some movies, how real can go acting

As real as the script requires me to go.

Can you act naked

I cannot answer that, but I can say as deep as the script wants me to go. If you have a script of me being worthy of what I have to do, I will do it.

Do you have the dream of going into Hollywood

Every artistes have that dream, though not every artiste will smell the Hollywood's door. I have that dream too.

Have you made efforts towards that

Yes, but getting there is not easy but definitely, one of us would break through it. I hope it is me, Genevieve, Uche Jombo, I hope it's a lot of people who break in(laughs). I am not a malicious person; it doesn't have to come from me. I must not be the first person to break into Hollywood.

What is your relationship with other actors

I have a very good relationship with everybody. I come on set smiling and work with them as a family, I go back home like nothing happened. I have that relationship with everybody.

And with Mercy Johnson

I am not going to glorify anybody in my interview, so, if you are going to call that name again, I am going to stop the interview for no reason. I am just tired of talking about it. I have granted an interview on that issue, I don't have any problem with her. I will never have a problem with her; she is not just my friend. That is it. So, when you ask me about it, I get really offended (paused for a minute while still angry), I am sorry.

Who are you dating now, and when are going to get married

I am very sure you don't expect to say a name; I know you asked me for the sake of it. But if I am dating someone, I am dating the most wonderful man I think can suit me and make me happy. Not the most wonderful man that can make every other girl happy. At the moment, I am having fun, that is it.

It was sometime rumoured that you were pregnant, the same writer also reported you aborted the pregnancy. How true was that

Was that me for real?

You once said you don't want to have kids

That is very true.

But you want to get married someday, would you not bear children for your husband

Don't get me wrong, I love children. Everything that I do outside Nollywood that I have to bring out my money revolves round children. I don't care how much I bring out for their cause, I love children so much. As a matter of fact, I have five children right now but not from my womb. I wouldn't want to talk about this issue because a lot of Nigerians would not understand it.

But they want to know about it

I don't need them to understand it, it is my life

But they are your fans

I know they are my fans but it doesn't mean they have to encroach on my privacy all the time. And they are not the ones encroaching on my privacy, it is you who encroaching on my privacy now, not the fans. They wouldn't ask me all these questions.

But we (press) are speaking for them because they can't always directly come to you

Like I said, I play and love children a lot, but there are some certain kind of people who have the phobia for giving birth to them. Maybe I am just one of them, and that is it.

What happens if your husband says Tonto my wife, I want 10 kids from you

God never makes mistakes. If he gives a man who wants kids, that means I have to have kids, if he gives me a man who doesn't, that means he answered my prayers. God doesn't always give what you ask for, he gives you what you necessarily need. I think I don't necessarily children because there children around the world who I can take and make mine.

Did this phobia come from any experience

No, I haven't experienced anything near children bearing before.

What about from people around you

No, I can't even be around people who are pregnant. I just can't be around them, it is just my phobia. I love them, I love who they are carrying, the reproduction system. I adore them, I wish I can compensate every pregnant woman I the world. Because that is not just an act, it is a gift. Not every woman can get pregnant and see herself change.

What differentiates you from other actors and what inspires how you think

First, what inspires the way I think is the fact that I have seen a lot of people rise and fall, not just in Nollywood. I have seen lots other professionals fall, I might be very young in age, but I have seen lots of things. I have tried to learn from those I have seen their falls, especially those in the industry because I am in the industry. I don't want to fail the way others did but in my own way. I want to make my mistakes and not others. What differentiates me is the fact that I am not afraid to make mistakes and also come out to say who I really am or who I want to be. That is what I think differentiates me from others.

In simple words, how would you describe yourself

I am very loyal.

If you take a retrospect to your life, what is that thing you regret of

Hmm, I haven't made any mistake. Maybe I will say life cheated me. If I could reverse that, I would have my real mother. But I haven't made any mistake that I want to turn back the hands of time. Everything and mistakes I have done, I am proud of it. I am proud of everybody I think have been mistakes, they are like a stepping stone to me. I think God has put them there for me to be who I am today.

Sorry about this question, do you think if your mum were alive, she would have told you to calm down your controversial life

Seriously, I don't know what my mother was like. I don't know what she would have done, whether she is as crazy as I am, or has mad ideas as I have. But I hope she was as crazy as I am if she were alive, really, because that would have been a fun mother to have, someone who is really crazy. But since died, we won't know or find out.

As Africans, how does your father cope with the way you think

(Laughs) I was taking about my father sometime; I said that my father is a white man in a black man skin. My father is so black that when you hear him talk or reason, you just call him a white man. And I am opportuned to have a very exposed father. He is not tied down to some bullsh*t traditions. He is very liberal, he is like a bird. I am like a bird, if you leave me, I will fly. Don't expect me to come back; I don't need to be tied down of held down. So far, he has helped me through life. There are some things I do in movie, which people say it is not traditional.

(Cuts in), not African

What is African? Everything they tell us not to do arose from poverty. Is our tradition poverty? These are just rules people sat down to make because it soothed them at that particular point in time. I don't think tradition was for me. I don't follow tradition but I respect my elders and God. I try to do what God says I shouldn't do. When you say tradition, I tell you enough reasons not to respect them. I am that kind of person that does what you tell me not to do. Don't tell me about tradition; I don't want to know about it. Tradition didn't take me this far. I am just a Godly person and come from a Godly family. We believe what we believe in with no tradition in it.

What would you have done if you had not been an actor

Aside acting and entertainment, I think the only thing I can do is being on the rig. I can't be and sit in an office. I can't work under anybody. I think I just prefer being in the rig and do the man's job. Wear my baggy, helmet, just being a tomboy.

Have you ever being a tomboy while growing up

I have always been a tomboy.

How was the experience like then

Very beautiful, I didn't need to think of what I was going to wear, or how I was going to look outside. I just wear a t shirt and a jean. But now, I have to wear a skirt, blouses, make-up, and jewelry. I don't like all that.

If there something you love to change about Tonto Dikeh, what would that be

Hmm, my temper, I have a terrible temper. That is the only thing I have a fault in myself. If you ask me, I am a perfect human being. I don't know how to control anger and I don't even want to learn it. Maybe my fault is I don't want to learn how to control anger. I am a very impatient human being. That is my only fault.

How has this affected you

It has affected me in all round.

Negatively

Yes, a lot of times.

What is that thing you can never be caught with

(Sighed), if I am going to say it now, you all are going to push your eyes up and say hey, hey. You don't like to hear the truth, you like lies.

(Laughs), just say it

I am going to tell you, the lie is you are going to see me with a bible (laughs).

What about your music career

I am into music because I love music. It is not something I have always dreamt myself of being in. It is what I have a passion for.

Is it because others are into it

No, if it was because of that, I would never because every others have not impressed me in one way or the other, especially those that have come out from my side of profession. The reason why I went into music was because I have people around me who are ready to support me. I have this policy that whatever I laid my hands on, it just never fails, and it has been so. It doesn't matter what people say or think, this is going to work.

What happens if things don't turn out the way you envisaged

Seriously, I am not going to brag, I am just going to say it to you that nothing that I do is a coincidence. When you believe that things abou you are pre-destined, you can never fail. I was not born a failure; I came from Port-Harcourt to Lagos with just a Ghana-Must-Go bag. That was after The Next Movie Star.

Was there any family of yours in Lagos then

I had people here, that is one thing my family is proud of, wonderful and rich people.

Did you tell your dad then

I didn't tell my dad I was coming to Lagos, but my step mum knew about it. I didn't run away from home, I was already living alone. So, it was an opportunity. I had people in Lagos, my uncles and relations.

Did you go to them for help

No, I didn't run to them for help because I wanted to do this on my own. I am from a community whereby if you don't have a son, you feel like an outcast. It is like you have wasted your whole womanhood. I am trying to prove to a lot of people out there that I can be better than a son. I don't care how you look or think about what I am saying, I am better than a son. That is what I want my people to know.

What was in your mind when coming to Lagos

I was a very strong born again Christian before leaving Port-Harcourt; I got exactly what I saw in my vision about me and Lagos, and that was exactly what happened to me.

How has the Ikwerre culture affected you

Hmm, the Ikwerre culture, do we have a culture? I would rather that there culture is respect your parents and believe in God. Asides that, I don't know any other culture they have.

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