The Guinness World Records (GWR) has named 27-year-old Nigerian Samson Ajao as the new record holder for the longest marathon reading aloud, achieving an impressive 215 hours—just one hour short of nine full days.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Ajao, from Osogbo in Osun State, surpassed the previous record of 124 hours set by Kyrgyzstan’s Rysbai Isakov in 2022. To secure the record, Ajao read aloud continuously from published works, with breaks limited to just 30 seconds between items.
During his attempt, Ajao read approximately 100 books on various subjects, including finance, politics, and health. His goal was to promote literacy and inspire a reading culture in Nigeria.
Supporters, including Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Ngozi Adeleke and Education Commissioner Dipo Eluwole, attended the event. Ajao adhered to GWR rules, taking five-minute breaks every hour for essentials like eating, sleeping, and using the bathroom.
Before the attempt, Ajao consulted with medical experts to determine the best diet and hydration strategy to maintain his voice and minimize breaks. After completing his marathon reading, Ajao celebrated with a parade, joined by his proud parents.
Ajao’s achievement surpasses previous records, including those set by Adrian Hilton in 1987 and Deepak Sharma Bajagain in 2008. His record now stands among the longest marathon attempts in GWR history, only recently eclipsed by DJ Faber Moreira’s 10-day DJ-ing marathon.
