Hip Hop Chess founder Banjoko discusses recent brush with death

Adisa Banjoko is known to The Chess Drum audience as the founder of the Hip-Hop Chess Federation, an educational initiative fusing chess, hip-hop and martial arts. Since starting the HHCF in 2007, he has hosted tournaments, taught in Bay Area schools and spoke at universities from coast-to-coast. worked on remarkable projects including his exhibits at the World Chess Hall of Fame (Living Like Kings) and the Oakland Museum (RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom). In February 2012, he graced the cover of Chess Life magazine celebrating five years of service.

Adisa Banjoko’s Hip Hop Chess Federation
was the cover story of February 2012
U.S. Chess Life magazine.

Adisa on point at Harvard University

With RZA, one of the visionary founders of the Wu Tang Clan,
at the St. Louis Chess Club during opening of the
“Living Like Kings” exhibit.

On his 12th episode of Bishop Chronicles reveals the shocking story of how he almost died recently. The emotional segment reveals his days leading up to the crisis after twice blacking out randomly. After his wife demanded that he go to the hospital, they run test and make an alarming discovery. He was bleeding to death. They didn’t understand why. Reality hit home when they started asking him about his final arrangements and if he wanted to see a chaplain. He talks about the situation in very great detail in his own conversational style. Very moving!

Take a listen!

About HHCF: The Hip-Hop Chess Federation is the world’s first nonprofit (501c3) to fuse music, chess and martial arts to promote unity, strategy and nonviolence. They host lectures, panels, and celebrity chess events to help at-risk, gang-impacted and gang intentional youth make better decisions in life. The HHCF has been featured on Good Morning America, Forbes, Chess Life, VIBE and Rolling Stone.

Connect with me on www.linkedin.com/in/abanjoko