Nigerian dancer Benjamin Daniel Gabriel, popularly known as Ben Dancer, has completed a seven-day dance marathon in Lagos as he attempts to set a new Guinness World Records title.
Daniel ended the challenge at Freedom Park after dancing for 176 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds, exceeding his original target of 168 hours. However, Guinness World Records has not yet officially recognised the performance as a new record.
Seven Days of Dancing
Ben Dancer began the challenge on September 22, with the goal of surpassing the existing Guinness World Records mark for the longest individual dance marathon.
The current recognised record stands at 127 hours and was set by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap in 2023.
Daniel continued dancing beyond his initial seven-day target, eventually stopping after more than 176 hours at Freedom Park in Lagos.
Guinness World Records Yet to Confirm Attempt
Although Daniel has completed the physical challenge, Guinness World Records still has to review the evidence before confirming whether he has officially broken the record.
A Guinness spokesperson said Daniel’s application is active and that evidence from the attempt will go through the organisation’s official review and verification process.
Until that process is completed, Daniel cannot officially be described as the new Guinness World Records holder.
African Dance at the Centre of the Challenge
The performance was about more than simply reaching a record for Daniel.
During the marathon, he performed to different musical styles, including Afrobeats, fuji, jazz and zouk. He also incorporated traditional Nigerian clothing and dance styles into parts of the performance.
Daniel said the Guinness attempt was intended to attract international attention to African indigenous dances and showcase the cultural diversity surrounding Nigerian dance.
Supporters Gather in Lagos
Supporters gathered at Freedom Park throughout the challenge to encourage Daniel as he continued dancing.
Videos and clips from the final stages of the marathon also circulated online, bringing additional attention to the attempt.
The performance attracted people from different backgrounds, with music and dance forming part of the atmosphere around the venue.
What Happens Next?
With the dancing now complete, attention turns to the Guinness World Records verification process.
Daniel and his team will submit the required evidence for review, after which Guinness will determine whether the attempt met all the rules for the record category.
For now, the confirmed fact is that Ben Dancer completed more than seven days of dancing in Lagos and exceeded his original 168-hour target. The official record decision will come after Guinness completes its review.