Nigerian dancer finishes seven-day marathon as record bid awaits review

Nigerian dancer Benjamin Daniel Gabriel, popularly known as Ben Dancer, has completed a seven-day dance marathon in Lagos in an attempt to establish a new Guinness World Records title. Daniel ended the performance at Freedom Park at about noon on Tuesday, after dancing for more than nine hours beyond the 168-hour target he had set for the challenge. His team said the final recorded time was seven days, eight hours, 32 minutes and 59 seconds.

The attempt was aimed at surpassing the existing Guinness World Records title for the longest dance marathon by an individual. That record stands at 127 hours and was set by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap in 2023. Guinness World Records has not yet recognised Daniel as the new record holder.

A spokesperson told the BBC that his application was active and that evidence from the performance would be submitted for official review and verification before any record could be confirmed. Daniel, who has 18 years of professional dancing experience, performed at Freedom Park with supporters gathering throughout the week. His routine included Nigerian dance styles and several musical genres, including Afrobeats, fuji, jazz and zouk.

He also wore traditional Nigerian clothing such as agbada and dashiki. His team said the performance was intended to display Nigeria’s cultural diversity and different traditions and dance forms. Before the attempt, Daniel underwent fitness training and changed his diet to prepare for the physical demands.

During the marathon, he was allowed five minutes of rest for each continuous hour of activity, while medical personnel monitored him. He was taken to hospital for a medical check-up after completing the challenge. His evidence will now be sent to Guinness World Records, whose review will determine whether the attempt qualifies for official recognition.