Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is expected to lead a delegation of prominent Nigerians and other dignitaries to London for the international launch of veteran entertainer and activist Charles Oputa’s memoir, 999: The Memoir of Charly Boy.
The London event is part of an international tour planned for the memoir, which also includes stops in Germany and Kenya. The tour follows the book’s earlier launch in Lagos and is being organized alongside activities of the Charly Boy Foundation.
Obasanjo has a special connection with the publication, having written its foreword. His relationship with Charly Boy, popularly known as Area Fada, has developed over the years despite their initially different backgrounds and perspectives.
The former President has previously spoken about how his relationship with the entertainer grew from his initial reservations about Charly Boy’s unconventional lifestyle. He later came to regard him as a close and trusted friend, with Charly Boy describing Obasanjo affectionately as a father figure.
The memoir, titled 999, chronicles different aspects of Charly Boy’s life, career, activism, family background and experiences in Nigeria’s entertainment and political space.
Known for his distinctive personality and unconventional public image, Charly Boy has spent decades combining music and entertainment with social activism. His career has also seen him venture into television, film production, journalism and advocacy on issues affecting ordinary Nigerians.
The international book tour is expected to provide an opportunity for audiences outside Nigeria to engage with his story and the experiences that shaped his public identity.
The choice of Obasanjo to lead the delegation to London is also significant given the former President’s involvement in the book and his long-standing relationship with the author.
The memoir launch is taking place against the backdrop of renewed interest in Charly Boy’s public journey, particularly his transformation from a controversial entertainment figure into one of Nigeria’s more recognizable social commentators and activists.
The 999 project is also linked to the Charly Boy Foundation, which is expected to use the international tour to advance its programmes and advocacy work.
The planned events in London, Germany and Kenya will consequently take the memoir beyond Nigeria and introduce Charly Boy’s personal account and social activism to a wider international audience.
The London leg is expected to attract Nigerians in the diaspora, friends and associates of the entertainer, literary enthusiasts and other dignitaries.
The memoir’s international tour marks another chapter in Charly Boy’s long career, while Obasanjo’s involvement further underscores the personal relationship between the former President and the veteran entertainer.
