Nigerian Dancer Aims for 7-Day World Record in Lagos

A Nigerian dancer, Benjamin Daniel, known professionally as Ben Dancer, is currently attempting to set a new world record by dancing non-stop for seven days. His goal is to complete 168 hours of continuous dancing, surpassing the current record by 41 hours. The record attempt began on Tuesday, September 22.

Daniel, 33, has been a professional dancer for 18 years and is drawing on Nigeria's diverse dance traditions, including Afrobeats, fuji, jazz, and zouk, as well as contemporary internet culture. If he achieves his goal, he is expected to finish early Tuesday morning.

Large crowds have gathered at Freedom Park in Lagos to support Daniel, with many filming his performance and dancing along. The event has evolved into a street party, with videos of the attempt gaining traction on social media and drawing more spectators.

"It's a beautiful moment. Seeing how far he has come and witnessing him achieve this feat made me incredibly proud and grateful to God," said Uche Anumudu, a supporter who watched Daniel's progress.

Moronumubo Akodu, who has visited multiple times, expressed admiration for Daniel's determination while also voicing concern about the physical strain. "It is actually insane but I am so proud of him," she told the BBC.

Emmanuel Ulelu, who attended the performance twice, observed a significant shift in Daniel's energy levels. "On day two, you could see the stress," Ulelu noted. "Even after just three hours of dancing at the location myself, I wondered how he would keep going." However, upon returning 16 hours into day five, Ulelu reported that Daniel appeared more energetic, reflecting on the dancer's tenacity as an example of human potential.

The current official record for the longest individual dance marathon is 127 hours, set in 2023 by 16-year-old Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap, whose performance primarily featured Kathak. The Guinness World Records organization has been contacted by the BBC for comment on whether Daniel's attempt will qualify as an official record.

Nigeria has a growing association with Guinness World Records, particularly in the entertainment sector. In 2023, Nigerian chef Hilda Baci was officially recognized for a 93-hour, 11-minute cook-a-thon. Her achievement spurred a wave of interest in record-breaking attempts across Nigeria, with Guinness reportedly receiving over 1,500 new applications from the country within two months, covering activities such as reading, singing, and crocheting.