Nigerian dancer Benjamin Daniel, popularly known as Ben Dancer, has completed a 168-hour dance marathon in Lagos in an attempt to break the Guinness World Records title for the longest dance marathon by an individual. The 33-year-old began the challenge at Freedom Park in Lagos and reached his seven-day target at about 3 a.m. local time. His team said he continued dancing for another nine hours before ending the attempt around midday. He was subsequently taken for a medical check-up.
Guinness World Records has confirmed that it received Daniel’s application, but said the achievement has not yet been officially certified. The organization’s current published record is 127 hours, set by India’s Srushti Sudhir Jagtap in June 2023. Daniel’s performance attracted crowds at Freedom Park, with supporters filming the attempt, dancing along and following the marathon through livestreams on social media. For much of the performance, he used a mix of Afrobeats, fuji, jazz and zouk, while also incorporating Nigerian cultural styles. At different points, he wore traditional outfits including the agbada and dashiki, reflecting the country’s diverse cultural traditions.
Daniel, who has reportedly danced professionally for about 18 years, said the attempt was designed not only as an endurance challenge but also as a celebration of Nigerian dance and culture. His team said he underwent intensive physical preparation before the attempt, including changes to his diet and cardiovascular training. Guinness World Records will now review the evidence submitted by Daniel’s team, including records of the performance and supporting documentation, before determining whether the attempt meets its requirements. The organization notes that marathon record attempts require detailed activity and rest-break logs as part of the verification process.
