I used to be born again before I got into entertainment, says Tonto Dikeh

Actress Tonto Dikeh has said philanthropy is her passion and she emulated the character while an avid church member.

In a chat with Rubbin’ Minds, the actress told show host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu that she was a devoted born again Christian before she ventured into the entertainment industry.

She said: “Before I got into entertainment business I used to be so born again. I was a member of a church that was big on giving. I got that doctrine from there and I have been running with it for so long.

“I’m actually known as a very strong woman. That is something I strive so hard to maintain. I’d love people to see the better side of me, more of the philanthropist side of me. Because that’s my passion, my life.”

Dikeh once basked in sharing personal details of her life to the public. Now, the reverse is the case.

She vehemently declined answering any questions that involved her personal life. However, she addressed how she felt when her estranged husband, Churchill Olakunle, controlled the narrative regarding their marriage.

“At first it bothered me a lot, it was killing me,” she said. “But then I got to a point where I realized that nobody cares about me or the situation that happened in my home asides from me.

“Everything that I’m doing out there is for their entertainment, nobody really cares about that. What I went through, I went through. I’m not about to validate my past pain to anybody.

“I’m about moving forward and dumping every weight that has held me backwards for a very long time and being as successful as I can. Whether you believe me or not, it does not matter.”

She said she doesn’t regret granting expose interviews on her marriage as this made other victims of domestic violence speak out.

Notwithstanding, Dikeh said she still intends taking legal actions against her husband but won’t disclose the charges.

“I have been trying to drag him to court. We are still in the process. It takes time,” she said.

When asked if she is worried about her son and if the current situation would have an effect on him, the actress said that is for her to assimilate as a mother and not for the public.

The actress said she is on an exciting project that she can’t reveal but she thinks it is what the public, which she has waged war against, has been waiting for.

One thing she did reveal was that it wasn’t movie related but her foundation, Tonto Dike Foundation, is a huge part of the project. The foundation, she said, would be building a school for the less privileged and victims of all forms of violence.

The singer had ventured into music at some point in her career. She signed a record deal with Dbanj’s DKM record label and released music under the label.

Now an independent artiste, Dikeh said music is still in the agenda and she’s currently doing some work on it.