“Can Portable Play Chess?” – Tunde Onakoya’s Gift Idea Sparks Debate Over Elitism in Art & Access
What started as a cheerful giveaway quickly turned into a hot-button debate on class, inclusion, and access — all thanks to a simple question: Can Portable play chess?
Renowned chess master and global sensation Tunde Onakoya, known for his passion for using chess to empower underprivileged kids, revealed he had two chess sets left to give away and asked fans who should receive them.
One fan jokingly (or maybe not) suggested controversial singer Portable and rising talent Lande as worthy recipients. Onakoya’s reply? “Can Portable play chess?”
And just like that — the board was set.
💬 Internet Reacts: “This Ain’t About Chess Anymore…”
What followed was a flood of commentary. Some saw it as harmless banter; others viewed it as a subtle form of elitism:
@Olamoju4: “Does the president know how to play? Abi na only people wey sabi una dey give?”
@DavymartinCE0: “Tinubu knows how to play chess. That’s why he checkmated you.”
@enyola: “Teach him or just give me the chess board already.”
@RantiReal: “Bro, your whole mission is ‘Chess in the Slums’ — but Portable can’t qualify?”
💭 OPINION: Must You Understand Art to Deserve It?
Tunde Onakoya’s work has undeniably changed lives — from chess under the bridge in Lagos to global recognition in Times Square. But this moment raises an important question:
Must someone already “qualify” before they’re given access to tools of growth?
Suggesting that Portable — with his street persona and often chaotic public image — might not “deserve” a chess set undermines the very idea of outreach. Chess is about strategy, growth, and inclusion. It’s not just for the polished, the quiet, or the elite.
If Onakoya’s vision is truly about bridging class gaps through chess, then giving someone like Portable a set could spark curiosity — or even a movement. Imagine: “Chess With Zazoo” – chaos meets calculation. Why not?
📝 By: Zara Okechukwu | TalkTalk Nigeria – Culture & Commentary Desk
📲 Follow @TalkTalkNigeria for more real talk on culture clashes, social debates, and the changing face of empowerment.
📌 #ChessIsForEveryone #PortableVsPawn #TundeOnakoyaDebate #GiveChessAChance #TalkTalkTrending
💔 Tragedy in Miami: 28-Year-Old Woman Dies After BBL Surgery, Sparks Outcry Over Cosmetic Surgery Risks
📍 Miami, Florida – March 2025
📌 #AhmoniqueMiller #BBLRisks #LoveYourBody #TalkTalkVoices #StopUnlicensedClinics
A devastating story has once again reignited conversations around cosmetic surgery culture, body image pressure, and the unregulated industry that preys on vulnerable women.
Ahmonique Miller, a vibrant 28-year-old mother from Las Vegas, tragically lost her life just hours after undergoing a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) and liposuction in Miami. The procedure took place on March 7 at Avana Plastic Surgery, a known facility for discounted cosmetic procedures. She was later taken to Keyla’s Recovery House, a now-exposed unlicensed recovery center, where she reportedly received unprescribed medication and was found unresponsive that evening.
According to the autopsy, her death was caused by acute combined drug toxicity.
💬 A Nation Reacts: “She Should Still Be Alive”
Social media has exploded with reactions ranging from heartbreak to frustration — not just over Miller’s death, but over the growing normalization of life-threatening beauty procedures.
@aishamusic: “About a dozen women have died after BBL surgeries in Miami. There’s definitely a problem.”
@LedbetterTarra: “She should still be alive today with her son. I hope her family gets justice.”
@realgoattalk1: “Was that picture before the BBL? Sis didn’t need it. She was already beautiful.”
@Cmj_Shark: “Black women, you’re more than what’s on your bottom. It’s not worth your life.”
💭 OPINION: The Price of ‘Perfection’ – When Insecurity Meets Industry
This isn’t the first time, and sadly, it may not be the last. The BBL procedure has one of the highest mortality rates in cosmetic surgery, especially when done in cost-cutting clinics or by unlicensed caregivers. But beneath the medical malpractice lies a more haunting reality:
Women — especially Black women — are being sold the lie that beauty is worth risking everything for.
Social media aesthetics, body shaming, and celebrity culture have created a dangerous fantasy: that a “snatched waist” and “cheeked up” look = confidence, success, and love. But as Miller’s tragic story shows, confidence built on surgical scars can come with irreversible consequences.
⚠️ What Needs to Change?
Tighter regulation of recovery homes and cosmetic clinics
Mandatory psychological screening before major body-altering procedures
Greater investment in body positivity campaigns targeting women of color
And most of all… a cultural shift from glorifying curves to celebrating character and health.
🕊️ Rest in peace, Ahmonique Miller. You were more than your body — and you deserved better. May your story serve as a wake-up call and a mirror to a society obsessed with dangerous standards.
📌 #BBLAwareness #AhmoniqueMiller #SayNoToUnlicensedClinics #LoveYourself #BodyPositivityMatters #TalkTalkVoices
