Charly Boy

The second son of former Supreme Court Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Oguta-native Oputa was born into a Catholic household,[3] and is the cousin of Swedish musician Dr. Alban. As he often refused to reveal his date of birth in interviews, his age remained unknown until 2011 when he celebrated his sixtieth birthday, however, in his usual enigmatic character, he announced his 63rd birthday on 19 June 2013, making his age a contentious one.[4]

Although he describes his parents as liberals who encouraged their children to express themselves freely, Oputa has also spoken of their conservative nature. He aspired to become a priest,[5] but left seminary school after a year. In his late teens he moved to America where he attended college, graduating with a degree in Communications.[6]

Charly Boy is known as an advocate of the masses as he has fought for the rights of the average Nigerian. He has on several occasions been tortured by the Nigerian police and the military for standing up to his country's government. However he is also, on occasion, regarded as their friend, depending on the sensibility of those in power. An inspirational writer, Charly Boy focuses on various subjects in several newspapers including The Daily Post and his own publication Charly Boy Magazine, and has been known to write slogans on rocks in Abuja where he currently resides. An avid supporter of Okada riders in Nigeria - an organisation that has been frowned on by government as they have been regarded as a menace and unsafe transportation - he has fought for the rights of Okada users - most of whom are poor individuals who earn their living by using the Okada for commercial purposes; he also stated that operators play a prominent role in government as most politicians engage their services during campaigns. His efforts earned him the name Area Fada.[21][22][23][24]

In the mid-nineties Charly Boy fought for the rights of military pensioners during the Abacha-led military dispensation by marching to Defence headquarters in Abuja to demand payment of their pension arrears.[25] He has also fronted campaigns for Nigerian Widows,[26] and was founder of the Save Nigeria from Nigeria campaign during the last presidential election . During the Fuel Subsidy protest in 2012, he was arrested alongside six other activists for civil disobedience.[27]

He was one of the celebrities who organised fundraisers to support his old friend Tyna Onwudiwe who would later die of lung cancer.[28]

In 2017, Charly Boy started Our Mumu Don Do movement, and participated in a daily sit out protest alongside Deji Adeyanju calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to resume office or resign after the President had spent over 60 days outside the country on a health visit to the UK.[29]

In 1996, Oputa starred in the Nollywood movie Backstab in which he played a gangster. In 2021 he appeared in King of Boys and Money Miss Road the following year.[30]

Charly Boy is the founder of New Waves Productions and publisher of The Charly Boy Magazine which he launched in 2010 and wrote for regularly.[31] In 1991, he wrote the column Nuts and Screws for defunct women's publication Poise. As a music video producer/director, Charly Boy has worked with numerous music artists including Onyeka Onwenu ("Dancing in the Sun"), Alex O ("She's So Pretty"), Floxy Bee ("Eko"), and Femi Kuti ("No Cause For Alarm?").

In 1990, Charly Boy was among the Nigerian singers who supported Yvonne Chaka Chaka – then the face of Pepsi in Africa – in a series of concerts and featured in a commercial for the brand with Femi Kuti and Evi-Edna Ogosi. He was also in a number of Target cigarettes print commercials with his wife Diane.

Charly Boy is known for his change of image which started with androgyny at the start of his music career. His preference for make-up, relaxed and braided hairstyles, and "women's clothing" caused controversy among conservative Nigerians. He would later be nicknamed "Nigeria's Boy George" by entertainment journalists, but claimed that he had started this persona long before his British counterpart became famous.[32][33]

In the late nineties, Charly Boy began to wear his hair in dreadlocks and adopted a goth image,[34] acquiring piercings and tattoos which were frowned on by society who viewed his modification as Satanic and occultist.[35] In 2012, he introduced his fans to Linda, his female alter ego.[36] Charly Boy continues to sport the goth look, and in 2014 he shaved off his dreadlocks due to a thinning hairline.[37]

In 2010, Charly Boy was interviewed by the magazine E 24-7 alongside equally maverick Channel O presenter Denrele. The article, captioned "Caught In The Act - Yes, I Love Denrele" featured photographs of the pair in suggestive poses including a mouth-to-mouth kiss. As homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria,[38] the pictures sparked rumours that they were a gay couple, a claim they continue to deny, stating that the pictures were for publicity.[39][40]

In 2012, Charly Boy threatened to take legal action against two national newspapers (The Saturday Mirror and the Daily Independent)[41] after it was reported that he was gay and a member of The Illuminati; he allegedly disclosed this in an interview with entertainment writer Ed Jatto.[42] Later, in another interview with the Nigerian Vanguard, he stated "'I’m not concerned about name calling, but the way and manner in which we apply professionalism in whatever we are doing. If I'm gay, I will fight for the right of homosexuals. I am not gay and I am not part of any organisation called [The Illuminati] in any way, shape or form. I have never had problems with whatever the press writes about me. But these publications have gone beyond the boundaries."[43]

Charly Boy has been married to African-American singer and former fashion designer Diane for over thirty years.[44] The couple have children together, and Charly Boy has children from past relationships.[45]