Afropolitan
Afropolitan
Afropolitan
How To Build a Success Mindset Through the Power of Belief
1 hour 33 minutes Posted Jun 18, 2025 at 4:05 pm.
Intro
Grit, Purpose & Outliers
Growing Up in Ikorodu
Chess as a Tool for Reinvention
The Crisis of Fame
Breaking the World Record (Twice)
Ferdinand’s Story
Dating, Desires, and Private Love
Rapid Fire: Books, Suya, and Legacy
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1:33:34
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Show notes
From Ikorodu to Times Square: Tunde Onakoya on Pain, Purpose & Breaking World Records Twice | Afropolitan Podcast
What does it mean to turn pain into purpose—and purpose into global impact?
In this unforgettable episode of the Afropolitan Podcast, we sit down with Tunde Onakoya, the Nigerian chess master, movement builder, and two-time Guinness World Record breaker. From growing up in poverty in Lagos to leading a cultural revolution through Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde shares the full, raw story behind his meteoric rise—from the streets of Ikorodu to the bright lights of Times Square.
This isn’t just about chess.
It’s about:
The emotional cost of reinvention when the world wants you to stay who you were
Fame, friendships, failure, and finding purpose in pain
Building global influence without losing your soul
What it takes to be an outlier—and why greatness always starts in small places
Whether you're a dreamer, builder, or just someone navigating your own season of becoming, this conversation will meet you where you are.
🎥 Watch the full episode and let us know what part hit you the most.
📍 Subscribe to The Afropolitan Podcast for more conversations that redefine legacy and soft power across the diaspora.
#AfropolitanPodcast #TundeOnakoya #ChessInSlums #AfricanExcellence #GuinnessWorldRecord #Reinvention #FameAndPurpose #NigerianCreatives #LegacyMakers
🎧 This is one of the most powerful episodes we've ever recorded.