Digital billboards at the iconic Times Square in New York City have begun showcasing “999,” the highly anticipated memoir of veteran entertainer and social activist Charles “CharlyBoy” Oputa, ahead of its official launch later this month.
The memoir, described as a candid account of CharlyBoy’s extraordinary life and decades of activism, will be publicly unveiled on July 31 at the Mike Adenuga Center in Ikoyi, Lagos. The book features a foreword by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
CharlyBoy shared videos and photographs of the Times Square display on his social media platforms, celebrating the international spotlight on the forthcoming publication.
One of the world’s busiest commercial and entertainment hubs, Times Square attracts millions of visitors annually and is renowned for its massive digital billboards, making it one of the most prestigious advertising locations globally.
In the run-up to the launch, the septuagenarian entertainer has been teasing readers with excerpts from the memoir, describing it as an unfiltered account of his triumphs, failures, rebellion and personal evolution.
According to him, he chose a path of defiance at a time when conformity was the norm, refusing to be defined by societal expectations.
“I dared to be different when it wasn’t safe. I refused to be defined by my shadow. I created my own thunder—loud, defiant and unforgettable,” he said.
CharlyBoy revealed that the memoir chronicles some of the defining moments of his life, including family conflicts, spiritual encounters, multiple marriages, personal battles, and decades spent challenging the status quo.
“This book is not a biography. It’s a battleground. The ugly, the bad and the very good. It’s a collection of lived experiences that would make even the boldest screenwriters cringe,” he wrote.
Reflecting on his more than four decades in the public eye, he said he deliberately used the CharlyBoy brand to confront hypocrisy, provoke difficult conversations and amplify the voices of ordinary Nigerians.
“For over 40 years, I used the CharlyBoy brand to challenge Nigeria’s hypocrisy, provoke, awaken and give voice to the silenced. Was I controversial? Yes. Rebellious? Certainly. But also relentlessly real,” he added.
Born on June 19, 1950, Charles Oputa is the son of the late former Supreme Court Justice Chukwudifu Oputa. Over the years, he has built a reputation as a singer-songwriter, actor, television presenter, producer and outspoken social commentator.
Popularly known as the “AreaFada,” CharlyBoy hosted the hit television program The Charly Boy Show, served as a judge on Nigerian Idol in 2011, and is a former president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN).
He has been married to his wife, Diane, for more than four decades and is the father of several children.
