"...God has transformed me into someone He can trust."
Nigerian actress turned evangelist, Tonto Dikeh, has stirred reactions after sharing a personal testimony in Tanzania, where she spoke openly about her past and spiritual transformation.
The Nollywood actress made the revelation at the Women of Fire Prayer Conference hosted by Rose Shaboka. The event featured other notable ministers, including Jerry Eze, Funke Adejumo, and Halida Allice, and drew a large congregation of worshippers from across the region.
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Ms Dikeh, who rose to fame in 2006 after she emerged from the reality television show 'The Next Movie Star', said that her life was characterised by darkness 'I dipped my hands in filth', she said.
Addressing the congregation, Ms Dikeh did not shy away from describing the depth of her past struggles.
"While trying to find my way in what I now see as a wicked world, I got deeply entangled in darkness, I joined a cult and worked closely with demons," she said.
According to her, those experiences shaped her understanding of spiritual warfare and ultimately pushed her towards a turning point.
Turning point
In December 2025, the 40-year-old actress turned a new leaf after a viral testimony at Pastor Jerry Eze's Stream of Joy Church.
She has since engaged in social media preachings and prayers and even conducted outdoor deliverance sessions.
Before now, and aside from acting, the actress ventured into philanthropy and politics, including her role as a deputy governorship candidate in Rivers State in 2023.
In her recent sermon in Tanzania, Ms Dikeh told worshippers that her life changed following what she described as a divine encounter that redirected her path.
"I know who He is now, and I know that he does not have anything for me anymore," she said, referring to her break from her past.
She added that she believes God restored her and gave her a new purpose.
"God said He would take me back, clean me up, and place me on altars to preach His gospel."
Feedback
The declaration drew emotional reactions from attendees, many of whom applauded her openness.
She said, "While trying to navigate life in what I now understand to be a wicked world, I dipped my hands into so much filth and darkness. I joined a cult and worked with demons intensely. But today, I stand here as a product of mercy."
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"From addiction to the altar, from darkness to a life that now calls down fire in prayer, God has transformed me into someone He can trust. I often ask Him, 'Why me?' and he answers, 'Why not you?' I have come to realise that mercy is not just what God does, it is who my Saviour is."
