Guinness World Records confirms Nigerian’s 215-hour reading marathon

Guinness World Records confirms Nigerian's 215-hour reading marathon

Guinness World Records has officially recognised Samson Ajao’s incredible feat of reading aloud for 215 hours, describing it as one of the longest marathon record attempts in GWR history.

The GWR disclosed this in an article published on its website on Wednesday, stating that Ajao read over 100 books in total, covering subjects such as finance, sales, management, leadership, politics, health, and mental wellness.

PUNCH reported in May that Ajao’s friends and supporters celebrated on the streets of Osogbo after he reached 215 hours, setting a new world record. Credit| Facebook: Samson Olalekan Ajao

According to GWR, the previous record of 124 hours was set in 2022 by Rysbai Isakov of Kyrgyzstan, but Samson shattered this record by reading for almost nine full days.

The article read, “27-year-old Samson Ajao from Osogbo, Nigeria, has performed the world’s longest marathon reading aloud, clocking in at 215 hours—just one hour short of nine full days.

“To achieve this record, the challenger must read aloud continuously from published works, with no more than a 30-second pause between items being read.

“As per our rules for all ‘longest marathon’ records, Samson accumulated five minutes of rest time after each hour of reading, totalling two hours per day. Only during these breaks could he eat, sleep, use the bathroom, or change his clothes.”

Before the record attempt, he reportedly sought advice from medical professionals on which foods and drinks would preserve his voice and minimise the number of toilet breaks he would need.

In a separate interview with NTA News, Ajao stated that he didn’t sleep at all during his breaks.

“Even when it’s tough, you have to keep going to meet your target,” he said.

Credit: GWR

Ajao’s motivation for attempting the record was to promote literacy development and “inspire a reading culture in Nigeria.”

“After completing the ‘read-a-thon,’ Samson and his supporters paraded through the streets in celebration.

“Among the revellers were Samson’s parents, who both expressed pride in their son’s accomplishment,” GWR added.

His record attempt was witnessed by various dignitaries, including Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Ngozi Adeleke and Education Commissioner Dipo Eluwole.

Highlighting the history of the longest reading aloud marathons, GWR stated that the “record has a rich history, dating all the way back to 1987 when Englishman Adrian Hilton recited the complete works of Shakespeare in a ‘bard-a-thon’ lasting 110 hours and 46 minutes.”

This feat was later surpassed by Nepal’s Deepak Sharma Bajagain in 2008, who achieved a remarkable 113 hours and 15 minutes.

Rysbai Isakov, however, raised the bar, improving upon Bajagain’s record by almost 11 hours.

“These remarkable feats are now dwarfed by Samson’s record,” GWR said.

“Not only is it the world’s longest marathon reading aloud, but it is one of the longest marathon record attempts in Guinness World Records history, surpassed in recent times only by DJ Faber Moreira’s 10-day DJ-ing marathon.”