A 33-year-old Nigerian dancer is aiming to etch his name into the record books by dancing continuously for seven days, a feat that would surpass the current Guinness World Record for the longest individual dance marathon by more than a day and a half.
Benjamin Daniel, who performs under the name Ben Dancer, is attempting to remain in motion for 168 hours at Freedom Park in Lagos, Nigeria's bustling commercial capital. If he achieves the target, he will have danced for 41 hours longer than the existing record of 127 hours, which was set in 2023 by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap when she was just 16 years old. Her record-breaking performance was primarily centred on kathak, one of India's most revered classical dance forms.
The attempt, which began on Tuesday 22 September, has drawn crowds of young Nigerians to the open-air venue, transforming the area around the stage into something resembling a street festival. Supporters have been filming his every movement, dancing along from behind the barriers, and sharing clips across social media platforms, which have gone viral and attracted even more spectators to the park.
Guinness World Records has not yet confirmed whether the attempt will be officially recognised as a new record. The BBC has contacted the organisation for comment. Official verification typically involves strict criteria, including documented rest periods, witness statements, and continuous monitoring, all of which Ben Dancer's team appears to have factored into their preparations.
For much of the marathon, the dancer has drawn on Nigeria's rich and varied dance traditions while also incorporating the country's fast-evolving internet culture. Afrobeats, the genre that has propelled Nigerian music to global prominence, has been a constant presence throughout the performance, alongside other styles including fuji, jazz, and zouk. At various points, Ben Dancer has exchanged his dance attire for traditional Nigerian outfits such as the flowing agbada and the dashiki, garments that carry deep cultural significance across the country's many ethnic groups.
Nigeria is home to more than 250 ethnic groups, each with its own distinct cultural practices and forms of expression. According to his team, the performance is designed to reflect that extraordinary diversity rather than simply serve as a test of physical endurance. The intention appears to be to showcase Nigerian culture on a global platform while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of what the human body can achieve.
The physical demands of such an undertaking are immense. Ben Dancer's team has said he underwent intensive fitness training before beginning the attempt, adjusting his diet to focus on carbohydrates and cardiovascular conditioning. During the marathon itself, he has been eating lightly and drinking fluids while taking advantage of the permitted five minutes of rest for every continuous hour of activity. Rather than stopping every hour, he has chosen to dance for several hours at a time before accumulating his rest periods, a strategy that may help him maintain momentum and rhythm.
A medical team has been stationed at Freedom Park throughout the attempt to provide assistance whenever it is needed. The presence of medical professionals underscores the serious health risks associated with prolonged physical exertion, including dehydration, muscle damage, and extreme fatigue.
Spectators have expressed a mixture of admiration, pride, and concern. Uche Anumudu, one of those watching from the crowd, described the atmosphere as deeply moving. "It's a beautiful moment," she told the BBC. "Seeing how far he has come and witnessing him achieve this feat made me incredibly proud and grateful to God."
Others have noted the visible toll the marathon is taking on the dancer. Moronumubo Akodu, who has visited the venue repeatedly to show support, said she was impressed by his determination but worried about the physical consequences. "It is actually insane but I am so proud of him," she said.
Emmanuel Ulelu, who attended the performance twice, observed a striking shift in Ben Dancer's energy levels over the course of the attempt. "On day two, you could see the stress," he recalled. "Even after just three hours of dancing at the location myself, I wondered how he would keep going." However, when he returned 16 hours into day five, he found the dancer appearing more energetic than before. "It reminded me that we're capable of doing unbelievable things when how badly we want something matches and surpasses the difficulty of achieving it," he said.
Ben Dancer, who has been dancing professionally for 18 years, is due to reach his target early on Tuesday morning if he completes the planned 168 hours. His long career in dance has clearly provided him with both the technical skill and the mental resilience required for such an extraordinary feat.
His attempt comes amid a broader surge of interest in Guinness World Records across Nigeria, particularly in the entertainment sector. In 2023, Nigerian chef Hilda Baci captured national and international attention by cooking continuously for 93 hours and 11 minutes in Lagos, a feat that Guinness officially recognised as a new record. Her achievement ignited a wave of enthusiasm for record attempts across the country, even though others have since surpassed her cooking marathon.
According to Guinness, more than 1,500 new applications were submitted from Nigeria within just two months of Baci's cook-a-thon, covering activities as varied as reading, singing, and crocheting. This growing appetite for record-breaking reflects a wider cultural moment in Nigeria, where young people are increasingly using such attempts to showcase their talents, celebrate their heritage, and connect with global audiences through social media.
If Ben Dancer's attempt is verified, it would not only set a new benchmark for dance marathons but also add another chapter to Nigeria's remarkable relationship with world records. For now, the crowds in Lagos continue to gather, cheering on a dancer who is testing the limits of endurance while celebrating the rhythms and traditions of his country.
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