Biography Of Sola Sobowale Aka Toyin Tomatoes

The name ‘Toyin Tomatoes’ always rings a bell whenever it is being mentioned. Well, that Toyin Tomatoes is none other than the veteran actress, Sola Sobowale.

Biography of Sola Sobowale

How old is Sola Sobowale

Born on December, 26th 1963 in Ondo State, the father of the actress wanted her to be a teacher while her mum wanted her to be a nurse.

Her dad, Jospeh Olagookun was a retired principal while her mum, Esther Olagookun was a headmistress and so, they wanted their child to tow the same path. After her basic education, Sola Sobowale got admitted into the department of Music in University of Ibadan. Along the line, she developed a penchant for acting and thus, switched into the department of Theatre Arts.

Career

After her studies, she joined the Awada Kerikeri Group led by Adebayo Salami. There, she started practicing her art and in 1992, she acted ‘Asewo To Re Mecca’ but became popular after acting the SuperStory series titled ‘Oh Father, Oh Daughter’ in 2001.

Sola Sobowale started with Sura the Tailor and then Village Headmaster. The TV series brought her to stardom and she began featuring in other movies. The movie director and producer later took a break from acting and this break lasted for 15years simply because she moved into UK to live with her parents. However, in an interview the movie director stated that her relocation was to bring up her children and give them the best education.

Sola Sobowale Marriage

Who is Sola Sobowale husband?

Is Sola Sobowale married?

Sola Sobowale got married even before she joined the Nollywood industry. She got married to Oludotun Sobowale who was the former corporate executive director of Eko Hospital.

Their marriage is blessed with 5 children which includes a twin. Her first son, Gboyega Oyeyemi is an engineer who works with Telecommunications company, Etisalat.

He got married in 2014. Her twin daughters, Taiwo and Kehinde were born on August 1990 and they are both graduates of Northampton University. They are also into acting. Her daughter, Olamide is a make up artist, a youtuber and a blogger.

In one of her interviews, Sola Sobowale revealed that she has a restaurant, a salon and a fashion house and the veteran actress, Eucharia Anunobi used to model her clothes for her. Her daughter also helped her create designs.

TV Series

Superstory: Oh Father, Oh Daughter (2001)
Nectar, a TV series which showed on AIT

Movies Sola Sobowale Acted

Movies she acted include:

Sura the Tailor
Village Headmaster
Asewo To Re Mecca (1992)
Diamond Ring(1998)
Family on Fire
The Men’s Club
Shadow Parties
The Wedding Party
King of Boys
Gold Statue
The Wedding Party 2
King of Boys: The Return of the King.
Others include:
Cookies Spot
Pillars of Africa
A Can of Worms
Disoriented Generation
Wives on Strike: The Revolution
Christmas is Coming
Omambala
The Enemies I know
Seven and a half dates
She is a cast in the upcoming movie ‘No Man’s Land’

She has produced over 50 movies they include:

Ayomida(2003)
Ayomida 2
Ohun Oko Somida

Sola Sobowale Awards

Best Actress in Comedy at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in 2017

Actress of the Year at Allure Awards in 2018
2018 Hall of Fame at the Naija FM Comedy Awards

Best Actress Award at Ghana Naija Showbiz Awards in 2018

Lifetime Achievement Awards at the New Vision International Film Festival in 2019

Actress of the Year at the New Telegraph Awards

In 2021, she was awarded Most Influential Actor of the Year by Pulse Nigeria.

Her role in King of Boys: The Return of the King might earn her an award before the year ends.

Controversy(ies)/Rumours

The movie producer and mother of five was rumoured to be doing menial jobs in London in order to survive. Reacting to the rumour, she said,

“I did not sweep London streets to survive. I never swept 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”

There was also a rumour of her being arrested for cocaine and drug smuggling in England.

Reacting to the rumour she said,

“Shola, but they said you are in Holloway Prison in England and I said yes!” That those people recognized me and gave me a break to come home so that when I’m done here in Nigeria, I will go back to the prison in UK. She said I wasn’t serious, but I asked that when they told you I was in prison, did you believe the story? And she said yes! So, I said fine, because she told me she heard that somebody came to Holloway Prison and saw me there and that the person even spoke to me; that all I could do was just to cry.”

She continued,

“She said it was that lady who came to Nigeria and told them. If I carried cocaine and got imprisoned in Holloway, there is no way the UK government would have kept me in England till now. I would have been deported. So, I have never carried cocaine and I have never been imprisoned. So, all they have said or written about me is none of my business, because it does not bother me a bit”.

It was also rumoured that she was beheaded by the Saudi Arabian Authorities for drug smuggling.

Responding to the rumour she said,

“They even said that my hands were cut off in Saudi Arabia before they killed me. They said I begged the Saudi Arabian authorities that they should please spare my life that I was an Actress in Nigeria, but they refused my plea and cut off my head. When I got back to Nigeria after the story, everyone that saw me ran away from me because they thought I was really a ghost. They asked me, “Shola, but they said they have killed you?” I told them that I don’t believe in abracadabra”, she said.

Sola Sobowale Endorsements /Deals

Sola Sobowale is a proud brand ambassador of Mouka foam, a deal she has held for a long time. She also endorsed MiddleChase property. She was announced as the brand ambassador for Unity bank few hours ago.