By Chibuzor Alli
Nigerian dancer Benjamin Daniel, popularly known as Ben Dancer, has completed a seven-day dance marathon in Lagos, recording more than 176 hours in his bid to set a new Guinness World Records title.
Daniel concluded the physically demanding challenge at about noon on Tuesday at Freedom Park, Lagos, after extending his performance for more than nine hours beyond the seven-day mark.
His team said the timer recorded seven days, eight hours, 32 minutes and 59 seconds when the attempt came to an end.
The 33-year-old dancer had initially set a target of 168 hours, with the aim of surpassing the existing Guinness World Records title for the longest dance marathon by an individual.
The current record stands at 127 hours and was achieved by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap in 2023.
Despite completing the physical aspect of the challenge, Daniel has not yet been officially recognised as a Guinness World Records holder.
Guinness World Records has confirmed that his application remains active and that the evidence from the attempt will have to undergo its formal review and verification process before a new record can be confirmed.
“Benjamin’s application is active and we now eagerly await submission of his evidence, which will then go through our official review and verification process before any record can be confirmed,” a Guinness World Records spokesperson told the BBC.
Daniel was taken to hospital for a medical check-up after completing the marathon, following seven days of sustained dancing and limited rest.
The challenge attracted supporters, spectators and well-wishers to Freedom Park throughout the seven-day performance. Among those who supported the attempt was musician and activist Made Kuti, as crowds gathered to encourage Daniel and witness his record bid.
The marathon was also designed to go beyond the pursuit of a record, with Daniel using the platform to promote Nigerian and African indigenous dance and culture.
With 18 years of professional dancing experience, Daniel incorporated different Nigerian dance styles and musical genres into his performance.
Afrobeats featured prominently throughout the marathon, alongside genres including fuji, jazz and zouk. He also incorporated traditional Nigerian clothing into the performance, wearing outfits such as agbada and dashiki.
According to his team, the combination of dance, music and traditional attire was intended to showcase Nigeria’s cultural diversity and highlight the country’s different traditions and indigenous dance forms to an international audience.
The dancer had also undergone preparations ahead of the attempt, including fitness training and adjustments to his diet to help him cope with the physical demands of dancing continuously over several days.
During the marathon, Daniel was allowed five minutes of rest for every continuous hour of activity. Medical personnel were also present as he maintained hydration and ate lightly throughout the challenge.
The support around the venue continued as Daniel pushed through the final stages of the marathon, eventually exceeding his original 168-hour target.
His completion of the physical challenge, however, does not automatically translate into a Guinness World Records title.
Daniel’s team must now compile and submit the required evidence to Guinness World Records. The organisation will assess the submission against its rules and verification requirements before making a final determination.
For now, Daniel has completed the seven-day dance marathon and recorded more than 176 hours, while the official status of the record remains pending Guinness World Records’ review and verification.
The attempt is part of Daniel’s wider effort to use dance as a platform for promoting African indigenous culture and placing Nigerian dance on the global stage.
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