Nigerian sets new Guinness World Record in reading aloud

A Nigerian man, identified as Samson Ajao, has set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) in reading aloud. The GWR announced Ajao’s feat in a report on their official website on Wednesday.

“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,” the report read.

Ajao dwarfed the previous record of 124 hours, which was set in 2022 by Rysbai Isakov of Kyrgyzstan. To achieve this record, GWR said the challenger must read aloud continuously from published works, with no more than a 30-second pause between items being read.

In setting a new record, Ajao read no fewer than 100 books, covering subjects such as finance, sales, management, leadership, politics, health, and mental wellness.

According to GWR, he attempted this record to promote literacy development and “inspire a reading culture” in Nigeria.

“Many people came to listen to Samson throughout his record attempt, including Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Ngozi Adeleke and Education Commissioner Dipo Eluwole,” the report 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.”

In an interview with NTA News, Samson said he did not sleep at all during his breaks.

“Even when it’s tough, you have to get going to meet your target,” he said. Ajao added that before the record attempt, he sought advice from medical professionals on which foods and drinks would keep his voice as well as reduce the number of toilet breaks he would need.

“This 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 hr 46 min,” the report stated.

“Nepal’s Deepak Sharma Bajagain took the title in 2008 after registering a time of 113 hr 15 min, which previous record holder Rysbai Isakov improved upon by almost 11 hours. These remarkable feats are now dwarfed by Samson’s record. 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.”