Musician and activist Charly Boy has said that the late President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, helped him to rescue his music career in 1981 when he returned to Nigeria from the United States.
Charly Boy stated this in a tribute to the late Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 82 years
Charly Boy said after disowning his parents for not supporting his music dreams, he met Iwuanyanwu in his village, Oguta, and received an unexpected gift of $8,000, adding that the generous act enabled him to establish a studio in his village and kickstart his career.
He expressed his gratitude, saying Iwuanyanwu was the first Nigerian to believe in and support his dreams.
He highlighted the importance of legacy, touching lives, and inspiring others, and thanked Iwuanyanwu for his kindness, calling him “Biggest bros/father.”
“When I returned from the USA 1981, all I had was a dream as a broke Ass Charly Boy wanna be.
“It was Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu who accidentally met me in my village Oguta, after I disowned my parents for not buying into my dreams.
“He dashed me $8.000 at the time. I almost fainted. Dat gave me the impetus to build the Brand as I started my Jankara studio in my village. He was the very first Nigerian who supported and believed in my dream.
“My people, legacy is really about the lives we touched, the inspiration we gave, altering someone’s plan – if even for a moment – and getting them to think, cry, laugh, argue.
“More than anything, we are remembered for our smiles; the ones we share with our closest and dearest, and the ones we bestow on total strangers, who needed it right then, and God put us there to deliver,” he added.
‘Iwuanyanwu rescued my career after I disowned my parents’ – Charly Boy