Nigerian Dancer Completes Seven-Day World Record Attempt in Lagos

Nigerian dancer Benjamin Daniel has completed a seven-day attempt to break the world record for the longest individual dance marathon, performing continuously for 176 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds in Lagos.

Daniel, popularly known as Ben Dancer, began the challenge on September 22 and ended it on Tuesday. Guinness World Records has not yet confirmed whether the performance meets the requirements for an official record.

Performance draws supporters

The attempt took place at Freedom Park in Lagos, where supporters gathered to cheer Daniel, record parts of the performance and dance along from behind barriers.

Supporters from Daniel’s home village in northern Bauchi state also attended. People from the village ate jollof rice and coleslaw while watching the challenge.

Daniel’s team said the performance incorporated Nigeria’s varied musical and cultural traditions. Afrobeats, fuji, jazz and zouk were among the genres played during the marathon, while Daniel sometimes changed into traditional Nigerian clothing.

“Dance is spiritual to him,” Daniel’s assistant, Mercy Idisi, said while he was performing.

Chika Anagoba, the doctor who attended to Daniel, said he did not experience any major health complaints during the seven-day challenge.

Record verification pending

Daniel was seeking to surpass the cited record of 127 hours, set in 2023 by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap, who was 16 at the time.

His preparation included gym routines, pain and endurance training, and exercises involving sleep deprivation. He also developed a knee problem three weeks before the attempt.

Daniel began preparing for the challenge in 2022 and applied to Guinness World Records three times before receiving the go-ahead for his bid in February. The organisation’s verification process can take time, and the final result will depend on whether it determines that all relevant rules were followed.

Promoting African dance

Daniel has said the record was not his only objective. He told AFP that the performance was intended to bring international attention to African indigenous dances.

“The idea of the Guinness World Record was never for the record itself,” Daniel said. “It was to get the global attention for people to look more towards African indigenous dances.”

After completing the challenge, he said: “This means I can achieve great things from small places, and that I can change the world with dance.”

Ibrahim, a supporter from Daniel’s home village, said people had remained present throughout the attempt. “We’ve always been here since the first day,” he said. “We are so proud of him.”

Daniel is hoping to take on a larger role in promoting African culture and dances.