Nigerian dancer Benjamin Daniel Gabriel, better known as Bendancer, is in the final stretch of an ambitious 168-hour dance marathon in Lagos, with his effort aimed at securing a Guinness World Records title.
The 33-year-old began the challenge at Freedom Park on September 21 and has continued dancing for seven days, with the 168-hour mark expected to be reached on Tuesday, September 29.
Should the attempt meet Guinness World Records’ requirements, it would go beyond the organisation’s currently published record of 127 hours, achieved by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap in 2023.
The unusual endurance feat has attracted spectators to Freedom Park, while clips from the event have also generated considerable interest online.
Who is Bendancer?
Gabriel has built an 18-year career in professional dance and has worked in several creative fields, including choreography, creative direction, modelling, fitness training and dance consultancy.
He established Bendancer Academy International to train and mentor aspiring dancers.
His earlier work includes serving as the North-East Zonal Dance Coordinator for the Dance Guild of Nigeria, where he was involved in developing dancers and nurturing emerging talent.
Gabriel has also performed alongside Made Kuti and The Movement. His credits include appearances at Felabration, the 2021 Big Brother Naija finale, Trophy Shout International Festival, Global Citizenship and Project Asia.
A celebration of Nigerian culture
Beyond the record attempt, the marathon has provided Bendancer with an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s diverse dance and music culture.
His performances have featured styles and sounds ranging from Afrobeats and fuji to jazz and zouk. He has also incorporated traditional clothing, including agbada and dashiki, into some of his appearances.
According to his team, the combination was intended to represent the country’s cultural variety.
Rest, food and medical support
The Guinness marathon rules allow participants five minutes of rest after each continuous hour of activity, and those breaks can be accumulated.
Bendancer has reportedly been combining his permitted rest periods, while taking fluids and eating light meals during the challenge. Medical personnel have also been available at the venue.
Supporters and notable guests, including Made Kuti, have visited Freedom Park as the marathon progressed, adding to the growing public interest surrounding the attempt.
Despite targeting 168 hours, Bendancer has not yet been officially declared a Guinness World Records holder. Guinness World Records will have to examine the evidence from the attempt before deciding whether it qualifies as a new record.
For now, the dancer is pushing towards the final hours of his seven-day challenge in Lagos.
