Nigerian dancer Benjamin Daniel Gabriel, popularly known as Ben Dancer, has completed a seven-day dance marathon in Lagos, recording more than 176 hours in an attempt to set a new Guinness World Records title.
Daniel concluded the physically demanding challenge at about noon on Tuesday at Freedom Park, Lagos, after dancing for more than nine hours beyond his original 168-hour target.
According to his team, the official timer showed seven days, eight hours, 32 minutes and 59 seconds when the marathon ended.
The 33-year-old dancer was seeking to surpass the current Guinness World Records title for the longest dance marathon by an individual, which stands at 127 hours. The record was set by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap in 2023.
However, Guinness World Records has not yet officially recognised Daniel as the new record holder.
The organisation confirmed that his application remains active and that evidence from the attempt will undergo an official review and verification process before any 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 following the marathon as a precaution after the physically demanding performance.
The challenge attracted supporters to Freedom Park, where crowds gathered throughout the seven-day performance to cheer on the dancer.
Daniel, who has 18 years of professional dancing experience, incorporated a wide range of Nigerian dance styles and musical genres into his performance. Afrobeats featured prominently, alongside fuji, jazz and zouk.
He also wore traditional Nigerian outfits, including agbada and dashiki, as part of an effort to showcase the country’s cultural diversity and different dance traditions.
Ahead of the attempt, Daniel underwent fitness training and adjusted his diet in preparation for the physical demands of the marathon.
During the challenge, he was allowed five minutes of rest for every continuous hour of activity. Medical personnel were also present, while he maintained hydration and ate light meals throughout the performance.
With the marathon now complete, Daniel’s team is expected to submit the required evidence to Guinness World Records for assessment.
The organisation will then determine whether the evidence meets all the requirements for the record to be officially recognised.
