Nollywood actress Wumi Toriola has sent a lighthearted but direct message to her colleagues ahead of her birthday, saying she would rather receive simple birthday wishes than lengthy tributes that begin with the phrase, “A queen was born.”
The actress said showing genuine love means more to her than expensive gifts or elaborate social media posts.
Taking to her Instagram page, Wumi made it clear that she does not expect anyone to feel pressured into buying her birthday presents.
According to her, sincere affection and good wishes are all she needs.
“No be by force to give me gifts on my birthday. Your love is enough.”
The actress, however, admitted there is one type of birthday message she would rather not receive.
She joked that posts beginning with “A queen was born“ have become a personal trigger for her.
“Please don’t just start with, ‘A queen was born.‘ That thing na trigger.”
Instead, she said a simple birthday greeting would be more than enough.
“Abeg, HBD better pass ‘A queen was born.‘ ‘A queen was born‘ is giving stingy alimanjiri.”
Her humorous remark quickly drew reactions from fans, many of whom found the post amusing.
Wumi Toriola has built a reputation for expressing her opinions openly on social media.
Ahead of the 2025 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), she urged fans not to compare her red-carpet outfits to those of other celebrities, insisting she prefers to be appreciated without being measured against anyone else.
She has also previously described herself as someone who follows her own path without allowing public opinion or industry pressure to influence her decisions.
Over the years, the actress has repeatedly spoken about challenges within the Nigerian film industry.
She has criticized what she described as unrealistic fees demanded by some upcoming actors, questioned colleagues who downplay YouTube productions, and defended her success in digital filmmaking.
Despite occasionally attracting criticism for her blunt comments, Wumi has consistently maintained that she is focused on improving her craft and staying true to herself rather than competing with others.
Her latest birthday message continues that trend, combining humour with a clear reminder that genuine affection matters more than grand gestures or rehearsed social media tributes.
