168-hour goal in Lagos

Nigerian dancer Benjamin Daniel, better known by his stage name Ben Dancer, is trying to break the record for the longest solo dance marathon by dancing nonstop for 168 hours at Freedom Park in Lagos. The 33-year-old professional dancer aims to surpass the current mark of 127 hours by 41 hours.

The attempt began on Tuesday, September 22. If he completes the planned duration, Ben Dancer is expected to reach his target in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Guinness World Records has not yet confirmed whether the attempt meets the official record criteria.

Crowds have gathered around the park in recent days, filming the dancer on their phones and cheering him on from behind the barriers. Footage circulating on social media has further boosted interest in the event.

The performance highlights Nigeria’s cultural diversity

Ben Dancer’s show is being presented as more than a test of physical endurance. According to his team, the performance aims to tell a story that reflects Nigeria’s more than 250 ethnic groups and its wide-ranging cultural heritage.

Throughout the marathon, the repertoire draws on both the country’s dance traditions and fast-changing internet culture. The music selection and costumes feature a mix of styles:

  • Afrobeats is one of the performance’s most constant companions.
  • Fuji, jazz and zouk are also used in different parts of the show.
  • Traditional Nigerian outfits such as agbada and dashiki are worn at times.

The current record for the longest solo dance marathon was set in 2023 by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap, who danced for 127 hours. That performance mainly featured kathak, one of India’s classical dance forms.

Preparation and growing interest in records in Nigeria

How were nutrition, rest and health support planned?

Ben Dancer’s team says intensive conditioning work was carried out before the attempt, the diet was adjusted, and particular attention was given to carbohydrate intake and cardiovascular endurance. During the marathon, the dancer is eating light meals and receiving fluids, while saving up and using the five-minute rest periods allowed after each uninterrupted hour under the rules.

A medical team is also on standby at Freedom Park in case intervention is needed. Some spectators say they are impressed by the dancer’s determination but are also mindful of the physical strain of such a long performance; returning visitors say his energy has noticeably changed, especially since the fifth day.

Interest in Guinness World Records attempts has grown in Nigeria in recent years. In 2023, chef Hilda Baci was officially recognized for a 93-hour, 11-minute nonstop cooking performance in Lagos, and within two months more than 1,500 new applications came from the country in areas such as reading, singing and knitting.