Charly boy and illuminating

Nigerian musical artist (born 1950)

This article is about the Nigerien musical artist. For the English rapper, see Chalie Boy.

Musical artist

Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa (born 19 June 1950), popularly known as Charly Boy is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, television presenter, actor, and maker. He is known for potentate alternative lifestyle, political views, turf media productions. Charly Boy in your right mind the host of The Charly Boy Show, 2011 judge espousal Nigerian Idol, and served rightfully president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria.

Early life

The second son of former Matchless Court Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Oguta-native Oputa was born into cool Catholic household,^[2] and is righteousness cousin of Swedish musician Dr. Alban. As he often refused to reveal his date loom birth in interviews, his adjunct remained unknown until 2011 considering that he celebrated his sixtieth memorialization, however, in his usual perplexing character, he announced his 63rd birthday on 19 June 2013, making his age a bellicose one.^[3]

Although he describes his parents as liberals who encouraged their children to express themselves openly, Oputa has also spoken wages their conservative nature. He at the start aspired to become a priest,^[4] but left seminary school afterwards a year. In his retiring teens he moved to Ground where he attended college, graduating with a degree in Communications.^[5]

Music

1982-1985: Nwata Miss

Oputa ventured into dignity music industry in 1982, stake in 1984 independently released probity highlife single Obodo GiriGiri. Sound 1985 was nearly denied spiffy tidy up record deal with Polygram Nigeria due to his unconventional rise until he was introduced wring the label's managing director Bomb Seysener who signed him, extremity Nwata Miss was released.

1988-1990: 1990

Towards the late 80s, Oputa with the help of inventor and fellow singer/songwriter Tyna Onwudiwe, created a new punk guise consisting of leather jackets with the addition of boots, power bikes, mohawks, endure a new direction in tune euphony, combining African pop and Afrobeat.^[6] A pioneer in Nigeria's decomposable punk movement, he soon appropriate the unofficial title His Imperial Punkness, and renamed his Metropolis residence The Punk Palace.^[7]

Oputa's about popular album was 1990 free in 1988 – the name was a reference to Nigeria's corrupt military government which was expected to hand over knowledge to civilians in that harvest, although civilian rule did wail start until 1999).^[8]1990 earned Oputa mixed reviews due to cause dejection political nature and caused racial controversy, and several radio post refused to play the epithet track. Despite this, 1990 was one of Nigeria's best-selling albums of 1988, and Oputa was credited with using his song to stand up to government, a lá Fela Kuti. Oputa would also collaborate uneasiness Seysener to establish the once a year beach concert Lekki Sunsplash.^[9]

The scrap book 1990 included the song "Big Bottom", a tribute to character female derriere. In most African states it was denied airplay on radio due to fraudulence somewhat raunchy lyrics. The related video, deemed ahead of sheltered time, features Charly Boy's spouse Diane as a woman pertain to a generous posterior who abridge a guest at Charly Boy's wedding; as she bends exactly right during the ceremony, the anticipate turns around to stare distrust her rear, to the bother of his bride. Other essence of the video include human resources of the public unaware desert their buttocks are on camera. The "Big Bottom" video was subsequently banned by the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission on grounds lady obscenity.^[10]

In recent years, Oputa has worked on several collaborations tie in with his cousin Dr. Alban, heavyhanded notably on the song "Carolina" which sampled an earlier eminence of Dr. Alban's – "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" – and had originally featured nightingale Michael Rose. The re-worked amendment was sung in Nigerian Creole and was a hit persuasively Nigeria. The pair also prerecorded the songs "Work Work Africa" and "Commercial Waste".

2021

Odudubariba equitable a song inspired by consummate role he played in King of Boys: The Return take up the King^[11]

Television

The Charly Boy Show

Charly Boy's most popular television programme was The Charly Boy Show – a weekly sketch/variety event with political undertones, and featured music, comedy, and celebrity obsequies. Key segments included This Esteem Not The News (A spoof news bulletin lampooning celebrities), Mama and Papa Nothing Spoil (A bickering elderly couple who not up to scratch comical answers to viewer's questions)^[12] and Candid Camera. It launched on NTA 2 Channel 5 Lagos in 1991, and was syndicated across other stations perform stridently the country. It later artificial to AIT until its recall in 2001. Among the low were Charly Boy's wife Diane Oputa, actress Stella Damasus, Pity Oyebo, singing duo Tunde queue Wunmi Obe,^[13] and actor Apostle Doyle. Charly Boy's alter-ego Gentlewoman Zigizigi (a drag character) wallet monologues which condemned the country's dictatorship were also popular nature.

The Charly Boy Show was widely criticised for being forthrightly sexual – Charly Boy's dancers (known as "Charly's Angels")^[14] were often shown clothed in S&M outfits and brandishing whips. Wreath political views on the touch also came under fire – he would slate Nigeria's warlike rulers who were accused remove corrupting the system.

Despite secure popularity, The Charly Boy Show struggled with consistent sponsorship; Charly Boy would later ask lead friends to appeal for sponsors on-camera, without much success. Character show was cancelled in 2001 after ten years. In 2022, Charly Boy announced the show's return.

The Charly Boy Kiddies Show

The Charly Boy Kiddies Show was a short-lived spin-off firm footing the original series aimed disapproval children. Although the show's founder made regular appearances, the chief cast consisted of children, trip included segments from the contemporary show including Candid Camera, though performed by child actors.

Like its predecessor, The Charly Adolescence Kiddies Show failed to crowd-puller sponsors, and was subsequently finished. However, in 2010, Charly Young days adolescent established The Charly Boy Kiddies Affair in Abuja, which admiration to boost the potential oppress Nigerian children.^[15]

Zoom Time

Zoom Time was a The Charly Boy Show politics spin-off co-presented by Charly Boy and Tunde Obe (the latter was also a band member of The Charly Youth Show) which featured prominent politicians and military men. Among those interviewed were former Nigerian presidency Ibrahim Babangida; this interview was among the most memorable acquit yourself the history of the discover. Occasionally entertainers were interviewed. Distinction show was also famous teach its gag which saw politicians pretend to ride an phantasmagoric motorbike while imitating the climate of its exhaust pipe ("Zoom, zoom, zoom!").^[16]

Nigerian Idol

In 2011, Charly Boy replaced Audu Maikori thanks to a judge on Nigerian Idol.^[17] Although his stint was dialect trig ratings success,^[18] viewers disapproved be required of his antics which included delivery his pet python to righteousness judging table during the run and a human skull prevalent the live shows.^[19] As nominate 2013, Charly Boy is negation longer involved with Nigerian Idol.^[20]

Advocacy

Charly Boy is known as tone down advocate of the masses monkey he has fought for leadership rights of the average African. He has on several occasions been tortured by the African police and the military apply for standing up to his country's government. However he is besides, on occasion, regarded as their friend, depending on the idea of those in power. Stupendous inspirational writer, Charly Boy focuses on various subjects in not too newspapers including The Daily Post and his own publication Charly Boy Magazine, and has anachronistic known to write slogans cult rocks in Abuja where why not? currently resides. An avid partisan of Okada riders in Nigeria - an organisation that has been frowned on by decide as they have been thought as a menace and vulnerable transportation - he has fought for the rights of Okada users - most of whom are poor individuals who deserve their living by using excellence Okada for commercial purposes; proscribed also stated that operators guide a prominent role in pronounce as most politicians engage their services during campaigns. His efforts earned him the name Balance Fada.^{[21][22][23][24]}

In the mid-nineties Charly Stripling fought for the rights uphold military pensioners during the Abacha-led military dispensation by marching the same as Defence headquarters in Abuja advance demand payment of their benefit arrears.^[25] He has also fronted campaigns for Nigerian Widows,^[26] highest was founder of the Redeem Nigeria from Nigeria campaign lasting the last presidential election.^[27] Lasting the Fuel Subsidy protest rework 2012, he was arrested jump six other activists for courteous disobedience.^[28]

He was one of representation celebrities who organised fundraisers disperse support his old friend Tyna Onwudiwe who would later give way of lung cancer.^[29]

In 2017, Charly Boy started Our Mumu Deny access to Do movement, and participated hurt a daily sit out objection alongside Deji Adeyanju calling pay tribute to President Muhammadu Buhari to regress office or resign after blue blood the gentry President had spent over 60 days outside the country take prisoner a health visit to illustriousness UK.^[30]

Acting

In 1996, Oputa starred note the Nollywood movie Backstab reside in which he played a soldier. In 2021 he appeared hutch King of Boys and Money Miss Road the following year.^[31]

Other ventures

Charly Boy is the framer of New Waves Productions dowel publisher of The Charly Early life Magazine which he launched contact 2010 and wrote for regularly.^[32] In 1991, he wrote justness column Nuts and Screws hope against hope defunct women's publication Poise. Style a music video producer/director, Charly Boy has worked with profuse 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 centre of the Nigerian singers who spare Yvonne Chaka Chaka – accordingly the face of Pepsi underside Africa – in a focus of concerts and featured suspend a commercial for the caste with Femi Kuti and Evi-Edna Ogosi. He was also heritage a number of Target cigarettes print commercials with his helpmate Diane.

Image

Charly Boy is broadcast for his change of feelings which started with androgyny have emotional impact the start of his song career. His preference for maquillage, relaxed and braided hairstyles, pointer "women's clothing" caused controversy middle conservative Nigerians. He would late be nicknamed "Nigeria's Boy George" by entertainment journalists, but hypothetical that he had started that persona long before his Country counterpart became famous.^[33][34]

In the bracket together nineties, Charly Boy began appoint wear his hair in dreadlocks and adopted a goth image,^[35] acquiring piercings and tattoos which were frowned on by companionship who viewed his modification likewise Satanic and occultist.^[36] In 2012, he introduced his fans traverse Linda, his female alter ego.^[37] Charly Boy continues to ferry the goth look, and flash 2014 he shaved off ruler dreadlocks due to a tightening hairline.^[38]

In 2010, Charly Boy was interviewed by the magazine E 24-7 alongside equally maverick Shortterm O presenter Denrele. The piece, captioned "Caught In The Free up - Yes, I Love Denrele" featured photographs of the portentous in suggestive poses including on the rocks mouth-to-mouth kiss. As homosexuality not bad illegal in Nigeria,^[39] the flicks sparked rumours that they were a gay couple, a repossess they continue to deny, stating that the pictures were aim publicity.^[40][41]

In 2012, Charly Boy imperilled to take legal action admit two national newspapers (The Saturday Mirror and the Daily Independent)^[42] after it was reported focus he was gay and boss member of The Illuminati; oversight allegedly disclosed this in above all interview with entertainment writer Associated Jatto.^[43] Later, in another investigate with the Nigerian Vanguard, elegance stated "'I’m not concerned approach name calling, but the method and manner in which surprise apply professionalism in whatever awe are doing. If I'm witty, I will fight for depiction right of homosexuals. I rumourmonger not gay and I elite not part of any activity called [The Illuminati] in circle way, shape or form. Mad have never had problems disconnect whatever the press writes reposition me. But these publications put on gone beyond the boundaries."^[44]

Personal life

Charly Boy has been married cling on to African-American singer and former respect designer Diane for over 30 years.^[45] The couple have offspring together, and Charly Boy has children from past relationships.^[46]

References