“I did not sweep London streets to survive" - Toyin Tomato

Few years ago, reports had it that Nollywood actress, Sola Sobowale, popularly known as Toyin Tomato was doing menial job in London, including sweeping to make ends meet.

In fact, a Lagos-based magazine, E247, then published an interview in which Sola was quoted to have said....

“I am slaving in England and I don’t give a damn what people say. I thank God, I have heard them say how can she move from grace to grass, how can she a whole movie star in Nigeria and be doing this kind of job here.

“I can do anything for money as long as it is not theft, cheat or sell myself or my morals. If it is to sweep the streets of London to make money to survive or keep my children going I ‘Sola Sobowale’ will do it. I believe in what is called dignity of labour.

“In England when I am going to work I don’t hide myself I put on my uniform from home, on my uniform it is written there ‘Household 21’ this is me, I am not ashamed and I don’t
give a hoot about anybody when I know that I can’t beg for money so why should I pretend,” she had said in an interview with the magazine.

Well, in a recent interview with Punch, the actress denied ever working as a social worker in London.

“I did not sweep London streets to survive. I never sweep except it is my house. If people peddle rumours that I sweep the streets of London to survive, so be it. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. The bottom line is that I believe in dignity of labour but I have never swept in any land to earn money in my life,” she said in the interview.