LAGOS, Nigeria — Maverick entertainer and activist Charles Oputa, better known as Charly Boy or “AreaFada,” is set to release a searing new memoir titled 999, which he describes as a “battleground” of personal truths, rebellion, pain, and transformation.
In a post shared via Instagram on Friday, June 6, 2025, the 73-year-old icon announced the forthcoming release of the book, promising readers a deeply personal and unfiltered narrative.
“Google defines the figure 999 as an angelic number and a dawn of new beginnings,” Oputa wrote.
“It’s a signal, a red alert that you’re about to read the unapologetic truth about the self-styled President of all Frustrated Nigerians.”
He stressed that the memoir is not a traditional biography.
“This book is not a biography. It’s a battleground. The Ugly, the Bad and the very Good. It’s a collection of live experiences that would make even the boldest screenwriters cringe.”
Charly Boy, known for his flamboyant style and provocative activism, reflected on a life marked by personal upheavals and public rebellion.
“I have seen things, fought personal wars, rebelled against and disowned my parents, married four times before I turned 36, danced with danger and dabbled in the spiritual,” he revealed.
“For over 40 years, I used the Charly Boy brand to challenge Nigeria’s hypocrisy. To provoke, awaken, and give voice to the silenced. Was I controversial? Yes. Rebellious? Certainly. But also relentlessly real.”
The memoir will also detail his recent battle with prostate disease and erectile dysfunction, subjects he says are still taboo among many men in Nigeria.
“From national fame to private pain… nothing in the book 999 is off-limits,” he said.
“In sharing his struggle, he hopes to give others permission to heal.”
According to Oputa, the memoir is part of a broader mission focused on men’s health and emotional well-being.
“It’s time we stop pretending and start living fully… 999 is not just a memoir. It’s a challenge. A confession. A revolution.”
Born on 19 June 1950, Charles Oputa is the son of the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, a former Supreme Court justice.
Over the decades, he has carved out a distinctive identity as a singer-songwriter, television presenter, actor, and social crusader.
He rose to national prominence with The Charly Boy Show in the 1990s and later served as a judge on Nigerian Idol.
He is also a former president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN).
Married to African-American singer and fashion designer Diane for over 40 years, Oputa is father to several children from various relationships.
999 does not yet have a confirmed release date, but Oputa’s message to readers is clear: “Buckle up.”
