Dominique
Oputa is the last child of the areafada himself, Charly Boy. She
currently lives in Atlanta where she's studying Fashion and Design in
the University of Arts Institute. Her dream is to become a famous
designer some day. Like her famous dad, Dominique has tattoos and
piercings and is very fearless. In this interview with New Wave
Productions, she talks about her life in the US, her father and his
influence in her life.
Are you happy to be home; would you settle in Nigeria or you would finally settle abroad?
This
will always be home for me, at least, it’s comforting to know one is
with family, and I am glad to be home. I missed home, mum and dad.
Things may not be what it should be, but home is it. There were too many
things I took for granted before I left, but now I know better. When
I’m done with schooling, I will be
back home, to do my own thing too,
even though, the weather is killing me right now”.
You are a child of two different cultures, how do you cope?
When
I was home, I grew up fast; I had that independent spirit, so I’m
coping real good. I am working now and schooling, I simply just thank
God. Growing up with my parents kept me on the straight and narrow path,
trust Dad, we all know how strict he gets sometimes, although I am old
enough, I guess in his eyes, I will forever remain his baby. However
growing up in Nigeria, prepared me for my independence. Nigerian
children are more grounded than the Americans. We mature quicker and
early enough to start taking responsibilities.
You look so much like your father in looks and style, is this deliberate?
I
think I’m just the female version of my dad, we are just the same
pretty much, I guess I caught his cold after years of being around him. I
have always admired him for his freedom and his tenacity at a time when
it was taboo to look that way. In my case, the whole thing just grew on
me.
I don’t do all I do because I am trying to be like my dad. I
am just Dominique, even though I wear tattoos and have piercings, but
it’s just because I love them, not because I got influenced by my dad.
There are many people who do this stuff, not because anyone, but because
they are just comfortable that way.
What’s is your choices of career, and what influence does your dad have regarding that?
I
want to be a designer and a stylist. I am like my mother in that
regards. I like to make things, and I’m good with my hands too. As long
as you walk that positive part and observe dad’s little rules, you are
free to express yourself any which way creatively. Knowing the battle
dad fought for his independence, it would be wrong for him to remote us
into something else that does not agree with our innate ability.
My
dad didn’t influence my choice of career, it is just what I’ve always
loved and desired to do. I have always had a love for fashion since I
was in high school. I could say a little bit of influence as to his
nature but not like I was pressured or told to do what I am doing now.
What is Charlyboy like as father?
Like
any normal parent, always looking out for their children and wanting
the best for them. Most of the time, he is easy with us, especially when
we are good. How ever, sometimes he is a bit old fashioned and can be
very strict.
Growing up, he was really strict but I actually
understand now that I’m grown that he was just looking out for me.
People see him differently on the outside but to be honest, he is really
a cool guy. He really understands and I could tell him anything. He is
like an elder brother or a friend. Yes, I’m very close to my dad.
We
all know there is no smoke without fire. How weird is your father, is
he as weird as it is made public…like sleeping in coffins, having
pythons as pet and even that his sexuality is questionable?
Hahaha…my
dad is an entertainer, that’s what he does for a living, and as an
entertainer you would attract all sorts, good, bad, ugly. It is their
stock in trade. At home, we don’t see any of this, it’s as normal as it
could ever be, but I guess people confuse his life as Charlyboy with his
life as Mr Oputa, they are two different entities. The man I know as my
dad is Mr Charles Oputa.
Do you share intimate stuff with your dad?
Yeah,
I share intimate stuff with him. Once, I had shared the story of the
birds and the bees with him and it wasn’t funny, maybe the timing was
wrong. But we are still very close and we talk pretty well. I don’t feel
like I need to hide anything from him, I just feel like I am an open
book.
Are your parents still together? What is their relationship like?
Yes,
they are still together. Every relationship is hard; there needs to be
collective efforts to make it work. I think they have had a cool
relationship thus far, though, they have their bitter moments sometimes,
but what they share is worth emulating, it’s kind of what I would like
to have in future, with my husband whenever I marry.
What about your mum?
She is cool. I love her; she has always been there for me. We have a very good relationship.
What about all the funny stories about your dad, how does it affect you, how do you deal with that?
Some
pictures came out some few months ago and I really didn’t know how to
react to it then. I know who my father is, but sometimes, people’s
ignorance and bad words can get to you. That is the price we all have to
pay, for being Charlyboys offspring; but on the whole, I am proud of
where I am coming from. I have a thick skin now so nothing anybody
writes gets to me again. I just tell myself, I know who this person is
and I am not going to get upset over words. It is something I have
gotten used to over the years, so it no longer bothers me when he does
some weird stuff. Sometimes, it gets so annoying being his daughter
because I don’t like so much attention focused on me, I hate crowd
around me. I am glad he is my dad, but sometimes it’s way too much.
How does being Charlyboy’s daughter help you?
I’m
proud of my name, but I don’t go about telling people that I’am
Charlyboys daughter. I even hide that angle, because you want to know
who your real friends are, not based on something else. I don’t think
anyone of us wears it as a badge. I love to be seen as Dominique, not as
Charlyboy’s daughter. Though, I am independent, I still love my
family’s name and no one can make me feel bad about it.
What do you feel about Nigeria’s economy right now?
Nigeria’s
economy is very bad. I feel like nothing is going to work anymore, like
when something is so damaged beyond repairs. Over there, they are so
ignorant; they still feel Africa is a jungle. I am also scared of the
Boko Haram insurgence in Nigeria, even though people die everywhere;
Nigeria already has a bad name that generates gossips in other countries
after a small strike.
What’s that one bad habit you picked up from your dad?
I
easily get angry, even though I am calm and easy going; the slightest
things get me angry. My dad is a little bit short fused, though age has
mellowed him down some little, I think we all took that from him.
What are the positives you got from him?
We
are very focused in anything we want to do, and I am sure, all of us
have that fighting spirit, the never say die attitude. We are also
people friendly.
Are you a Christian?
I am pretty
much a Christian, but I am not a regular churchgoer. I don’t like being
forced to go to church. I don’t feel good about the fact that I don’t go
to church anyway. In our family, we are more spiritual than religious.
