Ben Dancer completes seven-day world record attempt

Ben Dancer has completed a seven-day attempt to set a new world record for the longest individual dance marathon, with Guinness World Records still required to confirm whether his performance met every condition. The Nigerian dancer, whose real name is Benjamin Daniel, also used the challenge to draw international attention to traditional African dancers.

Daniel danced for 168 hours in Lagos from 22 to 29 September, aiming to surpass the 127-hour mark set in 2023 by India’s Srushti Sudhir Jagtap, who was 16 at the time. The attempt took place at Freedom Park, where supporters gathered throughout the week. Young Nigerians also recorded parts of the event and danced alongside him from behind the barriers.

The 33-year-old prepared for more than two years with intensive physical work, dietary changes focused in part on carbohydrates and cardiovascular training. Medical staff remained present during the performance. His programme included Nigerian afrobeat and fuji, as well as jazz and zouk, while he sometimes wore traditional Nigerian clothing. The result will not become an official world record until Guinness completes its review.