Nigerian dancer Benjamin Daniel, popularly known as Ben Dancer, has completed a seven-day dance marathon in Lagos as he bids to set a new Guinness World Records title.
Daniel ended the challenge at about noon on Tuesday at Freedom Park, Lagos, after extending his performance more than nine hours beyond the 168-hour target he had set.
His team said the final timer recorded seven days, eight hours, 32 minutes and 59 seconds.
The 33-year-old had aimed to surpass the existing record for the longest dance marathon by an individual, which stands at 127 hours.
However, Guinness World Records has yet to officially recognise Daniel as the new record holder.
The organisation confirmed that his application remains active, with evidence from the attempt to be submitted for review and verification.
“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 physically demanding challenge.
The marathon drew supporters to Freedom Park throughout the seven-day performance, with Daniel showcasing different Nigerian dance styles and musical genres.
Afrobeats, fuji, jazz and zouk featured during the performance, while the dancer also appeared in traditional Nigerian outfits, including agbada and dashiki.
According to his team, the performance was designed to showcase Nigeria’s cultural diversity and highlight different traditions and dance forms.
Daniel, who has 18 years of professional dancing experience, underwent fitness training and adjusted his diet ahead of the attempt.
During the marathon, he was allowed five minutes of rest for every continuous hour of activity. Medical personnel were also on hand, while he maintained hydration and ate lightly throughout the challenge.
The current record of 127 hours was set by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap in 2023.
Daniel’s evidence will now undergo Guinness World Records’ review and verification process before the outcome of his attempt can be officially confirmed.
