Video: Tunde Onakoya makes history at Louvre

Abdullateef Fowewe

Nigerian chess prodigy and Guinness World Record holder for the longest chess marathon, Tunde Onakoya, has become the first Nigerian to play chess inside the iconic Louvre Museum, the world’s most prestigious art institution.

In a viral social media post, Onakoya shared a video of himself setting up a chessboard amid the museum’s grand halls, dressed in a stylish agbada outfit.

“First Nigerian to play chess at the Louvre 🇫🇷-The world’s most prestigious museum,” he wrote, capturing a moment that blends chess mastery with cultural pride.

Onakoya credited Paris-based collaborators for the production, noting their role in filming, editing, and styling his traditional attire at the Louvre, home to masterpieces like the Mona Lisa.

The video has sparked widespread celebration among Nigerians online, with many hailing it as a powerful symbol of cultural representation on a global stage.