Sola Benson

Nigerian entertainer and cultural provocateur CharlyBoy, popularly known as “Areafada,” has taken his upcoming memoir 999 to an international stage after the book was prominently displayed on digital billboards at New York’s iconic Times Square.

The striking showcase, which lit up one of the world’s most recognisable advertising hubs, featured visuals promoting the forthcoming memoir—positioning the project before millions of daily passersby in the heart of Manhattan.

The memoir’s official public presentation is scheduled for July 31 at the Mike Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos State, and is expected to draw significant attention, especially with its high-profile endorsement. The book includes a foreword by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Sharing moments from the Times Square display on social media, CharlyBoy expressed excitement over the global visibility of his life story, which he describes as raw, unfiltered, and deeply personal.

He has also been teasing excerpts of the memoir online, framing it as more than a conventional autobiography.

“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,” he wrote, adding that his public persona has long been shaped by rebellion, controversy, and self-expression.

CharlyBoy further reflected on his decades in the public eye, stating that he deliberately chose a path that challenged norms and provoked conversation across Nigeria’s social and political landscape.

“For over 40 years, I used the CharlyBoy 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,” he noted.

Born Charles Oputa on June 19, 1950, he is the son of late Supreme Court Justice Chukwudifu Oputa and has built a multifaceted career as a singer, television host, actor, and producer. Over the years, he has remained one of Nigeria’s most unconventional public figures, known for his activism, entertainment career, and outspoken views.

The memoir 999 is being positioned as a deep dive into that journey—spanning decades of personal reinvention, public controversy, and cultural influence.