Ben Dancer Ends 176-Hour Dance Marathon in Lagos, Awaits Guinness Confirmation

Kehinde Adeleye

After more than seven days of almost continuous dancing, Nigerian dancer Benjamin Daniel, popularly known as Ben Dancer, finally brought his record attempt to an end at Freedom Park, Lagos, with more than 176 hours on the clock.

The 33-year-old stopped at about noon on Tuesday, hours after reaching his initial seven-day target of 168 hours at around 3am. By the time he ended the challenge, his team said the timer had recorded seven days, eight hours, 32 minutes and 59 seconds.

For more than a week, Freedom Park became the stage for a physically demanding display as supporters gathered to watch and encourage the dancer through the marathon.

Daniel had set out to surpass the existing Guinness World Records title for the longest dance marathon by an individual, which stands at 127 hours and was achieved by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap in 2023.

But while the clock has stopped, the record has not yet been officially awarded.

Guinness World Records confirmed that Daniel’s application remains active and said evidence from the attempt would be examined before any new record could be recognised.

“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 subsequently taken to hospital for a medical check-up following the physically demanding challenge.

The marathon was not simply about staying on his feet. With 18 years of professional dancing experience, Daniel used the challenge to showcase different Nigerian dance styles and musical traditions.

Afrobeats featured prominently during the performance, alongside fuji, jazz and zouk. He also appeared in traditional Nigerian outfits, including agbada and dashiki, as his team sought to use the marathon to highlight Nigeria’s cultural diversity.

Behind the spectacle was months of physical preparation. Daniel underwent fitness training and adjusted his diet ahead of the attempt, while medical personnel monitored him throughout the challenge.

Under the rules of the attempt, he was allowed five minutes of rest for every continuous hour of dancing. He also maintained hydration and ate lightly during the marathon.

For Daniel and his supporters, the end of the challenge marked the completion of the physical test. But the final milestone will come only after Guinness World Records reviews the evidence submitted by his team.

Until that verification is completed, Daniel remains an aspiring record holder rather than an officially recognised Guinness World Records champion.