Who do you know? CharlyBoy or Charles Oputa?
Everyone
of us face challenges everyday, sometimes, we can get over it on our
own but other times, we need to draw inspiration from other people’s
life story to make us realize that we can go as far or fly as high as we
want to if only we Dare to Believe. This is about The Unstoppable You.
But first, allow me to introduce Mr Charles Oputa to you, the inventor
of the brand you all know today as CharlyBoy, The AreaFada.
of us face challenges everyday, sometimes, we can get over it on our
own but other times, we need to draw inspiration from other people’s
life story to make us realize that we can go as far or fly as high as we
want to if only we Dare to Believe. This is about The Unstoppable You.
But first, allow me to introduce Mr Charles Oputa to you, the inventor
of the brand you all know today as CharlyBoy, The AreaFada.
I
would like to share with you my story of Drive, Determination and
Discipline, maybe it can help you start to believe in yourself.
would like to share with you my story of Drive, Determination and
Discipline, maybe it can help you start to believe in yourself.
I
grew up with an overdose of very strong family values, spirituality,
morality, integrity, character and love which was somehow engraved in my
DNA. Like most regular people, I come from a comfortable middle class
family, my upbringing not withstanding, growing up as an Oputa wasn’t
easy for me. My parents had their own idea of what they expected my
future to be especially my dad, but my dream was very different from
theirs. In the beginning there was no love lost between my late father
and I. His tough love led me to believe he was a bully, an overbearing,
cantankerous old-school parent, but from an early age, instinctively I
knew I wanted to stand out. To be outstanding, to be miles away from the
norm, I knew I never wanted to live under anyone’s shadow. I wanted my
name to be a household name. From the beginning, I knew I wanted to be a
legend of some sort, so you can imagine the many conflicts I had as a
young man with my parents for deviating from the path they had chosen
for me.
grew up with an overdose of very strong family values, spirituality,
morality, integrity, character and love which was somehow engraved in my
DNA. Like most regular people, I come from a comfortable middle class
family, my upbringing not withstanding, growing up as an Oputa wasn’t
easy for me. My parents had their own idea of what they expected my
future to be especially my dad, but my dream was very different from
theirs. In the beginning there was no love lost between my late father
and I. His tough love led me to believe he was a bully, an overbearing,
cantankerous old-school parent, but from an early age, instinctively I
knew I wanted to stand out. To be outstanding, to be miles away from the
norm, I knew I never wanted to live under anyone’s shadow. I wanted my
name to be a household name. From the beginning, I knew I wanted to be a
legend of some sort, so you can imagine the many conflicts I had as a
young man with my parents for deviating from the path they had chosen
for me.
My Guys, The hardest struggle of all is to be something different from what the average, regular, ordinary person is.
I want to ask, Should anybody believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself?
Hummmm
I don’t think so. The hardest path we all must walk is the path we walk
on our own. Alone. The strongest man in the world is he who stands
alone. So we need to be tenacious, consistent, focused, determined and
believe that you and only you can make your dreams come through. Oh!
Yes, goals and dreams are achievable, once you have a dream that is
motivated by your driving force.
I don’t think so. The hardest path we all must walk is the path we walk
on our own. Alone. The strongest man in the world is he who stands
alone. So we need to be tenacious, consistent, focused, determined and
believe that you and only you can make your dreams come through. Oh!
Yes, goals and dreams are achievable, once you have a dream that is
motivated by your driving force.
So, I want to encourage you to believe that no matter your background, you can be what you wanna be as long as you BELIEVE.
In
1979 after my masters degree in Emerson University USA. I came back to
Nigeria to start my career. I only spent 5yrs in America.
1979 after my masters degree in Emerson University USA. I came back to
Nigeria to start my career. I only spent 5yrs in America.
My
late dad was an outstanding Supreme Court Judge so through his
influence and of course my qualification, I had several white collar
jobs waiting for me all of which I turned down because I had this crazy
dream of becoming a world famous entertainer. My family was very
scandalized by my chosen path. The headlines in the news didn’t even
help matters and though my Mum was very understanding, my father on the
order hand actually thought I was crazy. I say crazy because a lot of
People out there too thought that the flamboyant image I built as
Charlyboy was crazy, weird, too loud, a bad influence to the youths, not
acceptable, perceived as not responsible especially for the family
image. A lot of times in the beginning of my career I also thought I
might just be crazy. But then again I figured that Martian Luther King
Jr. was crazy because He Had A Dream, The Wright brothers were crazy
because they dreamt of flying, Nelson Mandela was crazy for allowing
himself to be in prison for such a long time because of his dream of
ending apartheid. Bringing it home, even our own Fela Kuti was crazy for
standing up to the government in defence of the poor masses. So? what
if am crazy in a very cool and calculating way that turns my dreams into
reality.
late dad was an outstanding Supreme Court Judge so through his
influence and of course my qualification, I had several white collar
jobs waiting for me all of which I turned down because I had this crazy
dream of becoming a world famous entertainer. My family was very
scandalized by my chosen path. The headlines in the news didn’t even
help matters and though my Mum was very understanding, my father on the
order hand actually thought I was crazy. I say crazy because a lot of
People out there too thought that the flamboyant image I built as
Charlyboy was crazy, weird, too loud, a bad influence to the youths, not
acceptable, perceived as not responsible especially for the family
image. A lot of times in the beginning of my career I also thought I
might just be crazy. But then again I figured that Martian Luther King
Jr. was crazy because He Had A Dream, The Wright brothers were crazy
because they dreamt of flying, Nelson Mandela was crazy for allowing
himself to be in prison for such a long time because of his dream of
ending apartheid. Bringing it home, even our own Fela Kuti was crazy for
standing up to the government in defence of the poor masses. So? what
if am crazy in a very cool and calculating way that turns my dreams into
reality.
Through
all of the stigmatisation, I have come to realize that when we lose
the right to be different, we lose the privilege to be free.
all of the stigmatisation, I have come to realize that when we lose
the right to be different, we lose the privilege to be free.
My
determination pushed me forward and gave me the impetus to do me. I
tell you all from experience that The one thing you should never allow
yourself to lose in the pursuit of your DREAM regardless of any
obstacles, is your DETERMINATION and your DRIVE. I Charles Oputa, made
the most significant life changing decision that has brought Charlyboy
to where he is today.
determination pushed me forward and gave me the impetus to do me. I
tell you all from experience that The one thing you should never allow
yourself to lose in the pursuit of your DREAM regardless of any
obstacles, is your DETERMINATION and your DRIVE. I Charles Oputa, made
the most significant life changing decision that has brought Charlyboy
to where he is today.
In
1981 I moved to my village in Oguta, Imo State to get away from my
disbelieving father, to hide away from the disbelieving society who saw
me as a rich spoilt kid who had nothing better to do with his life. I
moved and settled in the village to get away from the prying eyes of the
public, to start my career on my own terms just like I had dreamt it.
1981 I moved to my village in Oguta, Imo State to get away from my
disbelieving father, to hide away from the disbelieving society who saw
me as a rich spoilt kid who had nothing better to do with his life. I
moved and settled in the village to get away from the prying eyes of the
public, to start my career on my own terms just like I had dreamt it.
My
seven year sojourn in the village was the hardest life teaching
lessons. I call it the dark years of my life, all I had going for me was
just my dream, my drive and my determination. I had no money, I was
embarrassingly broke, the village had no light, no running water. My
wife and I always went to the private stream to fetch water. In those
days as a young African American she thought the whole experience was
exotic, she felt at home because she figured she found her Roots but for
me it was a living Hell. I couldn’t even afford to feed my family so my
wife had to go back to America to get a job and support us. I opened a
small shanti where I sold alcohol and pepper soup to the locals to
survive! It was that bad. Yes It was hell on earth. But I graduated with
flying colors from The Street University, yes the university of hard
knocks where you build the drive and determination no human can take
away from you.
seven year sojourn in the village was the hardest life teaching
lessons. I call it the dark years of my life, all I had going for me was
just my dream, my drive and my determination. I had no money, I was
embarrassingly broke, the village had no light, no running water. My
wife and I always went to the private stream to fetch water. In those
days as a young African American she thought the whole experience was
exotic, she felt at home because she figured she found her Roots but for
me it was a living Hell. I couldn’t even afford to feed my family so my
wife had to go back to America to get a job and support us. I opened a
small shanti where I sold alcohol and pepper soup to the locals to
survive! It was that bad. Yes It was hell on earth. But I graduated with
flying colors from The Street University, yes the university of hard
knocks where you build the drive and determination no human can take
away from you.
These
are the most important combination we need to succeed in life.
DETERMINATION, DRIVE and DISCIPLINE. Once you have this combinations,
you become UNSTOPPABLE. And like I said, When we lose the right to be
different, we lose the privilege to be free. This became my daily song
in my head. Oh yes, life has beaten me down so many times over, but I
never stayed down, my belief in my dream would never allow me retrace my
steps. Giving up was no option. Godforbid.
are the most important combination we need to succeed in life.
DETERMINATION, DRIVE and DISCIPLINE. Once you have this combinations,
you become UNSTOPPABLE. And like I said, When we lose the right to be
different, we lose the privilege to be free. This became my daily song
in my head. Oh yes, life has beaten me down so many times over, but I
never stayed down, my belief in my dream would never allow me retrace my
steps. Giving up was no option. Godforbid.
Throughout
this journey another important character I was forced to learn was
discipline. I learnt how to discipline my thoughts by focusing on the
ways I could go about shaping my dream, I opened a small studio and
started doing recording for myself and others.
this journey another important character I was forced to learn was
discipline. I learnt how to discipline my thoughts by focusing on the
ways I could go about shaping my dream, I opened a small studio and
started doing recording for myself and others.
We
need to understand that in this journey of life, there are stages we
all need to go through before we get to our ultimate goal. We must go
through the process of life. I understood early that the stay in the
village was a process I had to go through to move to my next Level.
need to understand that in this journey of life, there are stages we
all need to go through before we get to our ultimate goal. We must go
through the process of life. I understood early that the stay in the
village was a process I had to go through to move to my next Level.
So
In 1989 I moved from the village Oguta to Lagos and the next chapter of
my life began but not without the scars of the last seven years. My
confidence level was at its lowest, my self esteem disappeared. I was
broken and broke however that trip to Lagos became the rebirth that the
brand Charlyboy needed and 38 years later, you have seen CharlyBoy the
musician, CharlyBoy the entertainer, CharlyBoy the publisher, the
author, the producer, presenter, the activist, the motivator, gothic
charlyboy, weird charlyboy, crazy charlyboy, charlyboy the
philanthropist, charlyboy the husband, the father, the grandfather and
by the special grace of God the great grandfather to be soon. Abegi,
make una clap for me.
In 1989 I moved from the village Oguta to Lagos and the next chapter of
my life began but not without the scars of the last seven years. My
confidence level was at its lowest, my self esteem disappeared. I was
broken and broke however that trip to Lagos became the rebirth that the
brand Charlyboy needed and 38 years later, you have seen CharlyBoy the
musician, CharlyBoy the entertainer, CharlyBoy the publisher, the
author, the producer, presenter, the activist, the motivator, gothic
charlyboy, weird charlyboy, crazy charlyboy, charlyboy the
philanthropist, charlyboy the husband, the father, the grandfather and
by the special grace of God the great grandfather to be soon. Abegi,
make una clap for me.
Reflecting
on my 64 years on earth, I have come to understand that we all must pay
our DUES in the pursuit of our DREAMS? I dare say that I’ve achieved
most of my dreams and what was my joker?, I did It My Way, I Dared To Be
Different..
on my 64 years on earth, I have come to understand that we all must pay
our DUES in the pursuit of our DREAMS? I dare say that I’ve achieved
most of my dreams and what was my joker?, I did It My Way, I Dared To Be
Different..
So, What is holding you back from making that life changing decisions I had to make several years ago, by going to the village.
You
are UNSTOPPABLE if you believe you are. CHALLENGES will definitely come
but you must learn to hold on. You must be tenacious, consistent and
disciplined. An undisciplined life is the surest path to failure. So in
our pursuit, we must learn to be disciple about our money, our time, our
integrity, our responsibilities.
are UNSTOPPABLE if you believe you are. CHALLENGES will definitely come
but you must learn to hold on. You must be tenacious, consistent and
disciplined. An undisciplined life is the surest path to failure. So in
our pursuit, we must learn to be disciple about our money, our time, our
integrity, our responsibilities.
So
today I say to you, no matter your chosen field, in the Art or the
Science, the only way you can stand out and be outshining is if you Dare
to be different, don’t live anyone’s dream but your own. Never stop
being YOU but most importantly, never stop believing in yourself!. What I
am and how I feel is simply my choice, others may not come to agree
with me but really I hold my head up high and am proud to be UNSTOPPABLE
and so should you.
today I say to you, no matter your chosen field, in the Art or the
Science, the only way you can stand out and be outshining is if you Dare
to be different, don’t live anyone’s dream but your own. Never stop
being YOU but most importantly, never stop believing in yourself!. What I
am and how I feel is simply my choice, others may not come to agree
with me but really I hold my head up high and am proud to be UNSTOPPABLE
and so should you.
I am Charles Oputa, Charlyboy, the Area Fada.
Thank you
