Nigerian dancer Benjamin “BenDancer” Gabriel has completed a seven-day dance marathon lasting more than 176 hours, but Guinness World Records is yet to officially validate the attempt.
Nigerian dancer and choreographer Benjamin Daniel Gabriel, popularly known as BenDancer, has completed a seven-day dance marathon in Lagos as he seeks to set a new Guinness World Records title for the longest dance marathon by an individual.
Gabriel ended the physically demanding challenge at Freedom Park, Lagos, on Tuesday, September 29, after dancing for more than seven days. His team said the final timer recorded 176 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds, exceeding his original target of 168 hours.
The 33-year-old began the attempt on September 21, with the initial goal of dancing continuously for 168 hours. His target was intended to surpass the existing Guinness World Records mark of 127 hours, set in 2023 by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap.
However, despite completing the challenge, Gabriel has not yet been officially recognised as the new record holder. Guinness World Records said his application remains active and that evidence from the attempt must undergo its verification process before a new record can be confirmed.
Seven days on the dance floor
The marathon took place at Freedom Park, where members of the public gathered throughout the week to support Gabriel. Videos from the challenge also circulated online as the dancer continued through the demanding final stages.
Gabriel incorporated different Nigerian dance styles and musical genres into the performance, including Afrobeats, fuji and jazz. He also performed in traditional Nigerian clothing such as agbada and dashiki as part of an effort to showcase the country’s cultural variety.
The performance was therefore built around more than physical endurance. Gabriel had repeatedly said that he wanted the challenge to draw attention to African dance and demonstrate the possibilities within the continent’s creative industry.
“The idea of the Guinness World Record was never for the record itself,” he said. “It was to get global attention for people to look more towards African indigenous dances.”
That objective remained central to the challenge as he continued dancing beyond his original 168-hour target.
How he endured the marathon
A dance marathon of this length required extensive preparation, particularly because of the physical and mental demands of remaining active over several days.
Gabriel had been preparing for the attempt since 2022, according to reports, undertaking gym sessions, endurance training and pain-management exercises. His preparations were briefly affected by a knee problem that developed about three weeks before the challenge.
During the marathon, he followed Guinness’ permitted rest conditions, which allow five minutes of rest for every continuous hour of activity. He was also supported by medical personnel while maintaining his energy through light meals and fluids, including coconut water.
Rather than taking every rest period immediately, Gabriel sometimes accumulated the permitted breaks and continued dancing for several hours before stopping to rest.
His assistant, Mercy Idisi, identified sleep deprivation as one of the most difficult parts of the challenge.
“Dance is spiritual to him. The only challenge we have is mentally, especially with sleep deprivation,” she told AFP.
Following the completion of the marathon, Gabriel was taken for a medical check-up. His attending doctor, Chika Anagoba, said he did not suffer any major health complaints during the challenge.
A career built around dance
The record attempt is the latest chapter in Gabriel’s career, which has extended across choreography, creative direction, dance consultancy, modelling and fitness instruction.
He has spent about 18 years working professionally as a dancer and is the founder of Bendancer Academy International, an organisation focused on training and mentoring emerging dancers. He previously served as the North-East Zonal Dance Coordinator for the Dance Guild of Nigeria.
Gabriel has also performed with Made Kuti and The Movement and has appeared at cultural and entertainment events including Felabration, the Big Brother Naija finale and the Trophy Stout International Festival.
His connection with the Kuti family has also formed part of his professional journey. Reports on the challenge describe him as the first and only male dancer to perform within the Kuti family’s performance tradition at the New Afrika Shrine.
Through Bendancer Academy International, he has also worked on developing young dancers and building opportunities for people pursuing careers in the performing arts.
More than a Guinness attempt
Before beginning the marathon, Gabriel said the challenge was intended to inspire other young creatives to approach their ambitions with discipline and resilience.
“Dance has shaped every part of who I am,” he said ahead of the attempt. “This attempt isn’t just about breaking a record; it’s about showing young people that with discipline, resilience, and belief, what seems impossible can become reality.”
He also said he was carrying the aspirations of other creatives into the challenge and hoped the performance would remind young Africans that their talents could reach an international audience.
That message was reflected in the way the marathon was organised. Freedom Park remained open to members of the public during the attempt, allowing supporters, artists and cultural stakeholders to gather around the performance.
The challenge also comes during a period of increased public interest in Guinness World Records attempts by Nigerians. Hilda Baci’s cooking marathon in 2023 generated widespread attention, while other Nigerians have since pursued records in areas including chess, wig-making and other endurance-based activities.
For Gabriel, however, the immediate focus now shifts from the dance floor to the Guinness review process.
His team will submit evidence from the attempt for assessment, after which Guinness World Records will determine whether all the requirements for the title were satisfied.
Until that process is completed, Gabriel can be described as the Nigerian dancer who has completed a 168-hour-plus attempt, rather than the officially confirmed Guinness World Records holder.
For now, the seven-day performance at Freedom Park has ended, leaving the final decision with Guinness World Records and its verification process.