Months after chef Hilda Baci broke the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, the wave of record-breaking attempts have not ceased in Nigeria.
On Friday, a 200-level student of Linguistics and African Languages at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Subair Enitan, commenced a 50-hour hand wash-a-thon aimed at breaking the GWR.
The GWR had fixed November 24, 2023 for the wash-a-thon attempt in Ile-Ife after Enitan notified them of her intention in June 2023.
Before she officially started washing clothes, she boasted that she would finish strong as title holder of the longest hand washing hours after completing 50 hours on Sunday.
According to her, “My background and the lessons life has taught me motivated me to embark on this wash-a-thon. The experience is unexplainable but it taught me to be selfless. I am confident that I will reach the set goal of 50 hours of hand wash and by God’s grace, I will emerge victorious.
“Despite the massive support from my colleagues here, I pray for the grace of God. I will end this wash-a-thon on Sunday. I am setting the record.
“I can’t lose because nobody has done it before. So if I do it for five minutes, I have set the record.
“My parents are very supportive. I urge Nigerians to rally round me while I do the washing for 50 hours.”
The Students’ Union president, Abbas Akinremi-Ojo, said the needed support, including the provision of ambulance, lighting and water, among other logistics, had been put in place to ensure she wins the challenge.
The management of OAU through the dean of Students Affairs, Prof. John Odedire, said the school was ready to give all it takes to ensure that she clinched the record.
Hilda Baci visits Guinness World Records office in London
Hilda Baci congratulates new Guinness World Record holder for longest cooking marathon
At the University of Lagos, Rhema Ahonsi is aiming to have his name in the GWR as he attempts the longest singing marathon record.
The 27-year-old will be attempting to become the first Nigerian to sing for 120 hours.
The 200-level Theatre Arts student who begins his feat on Saturday, November 25 to 30 at LAMP Studio, UNILAG, Akoka, Lagos, will have some hurdles to scale before ousting India’s Sunil Waghmare who held the longest singing marathon record by an individual since 2012.
Waghmare sang for 105 hours in Nagpur, India, from March 3 to 7, 2012, singing a variety of popular Indian songs.
Apart from staying awake for five days, Rhema, as required by GWR, must sing “songs recognisable and performed to a reasonable standard” throughout the attempt despite only having 24 hours of experience during a trial earlier this month.
GWR also stated that “apart from pauses lasting no more than 30 seconds between tunes, singing must be continuous” and “Each piece of music must last at least two minutes.”
According to GWR, Rhema “may be accompanied or unaccompanied. If accompanied, no musician may play for more than four hours, after which they must take a break of at least four hours.”
However, no piece of music may be repeated in performance within four hours and no improvisation or jamming is allowed.
“It is gospel all through. I’ll be doing 1,300 gospel songs. It could be in the genre of R&B, genre of reggae, genre of blues, jazz, traditional and luckily enough, I’ll be doing more of our Nigerian songs,” he said in an Instagram post on Wednesday.
