A 27-year-old Nigerian man has set a new Guinness World Record for the longest marathon reading aloud, clocking in at an astonishing 215 hours.
Samson Ajao, from Osogbo, Nigeria, read continuously for nearly nine days, surpassing the previous record of 124 hours set in 2022 by Rysbai Isakov of Kyrgyzstan.
Guinness World Records (GWR) confirmed the feat on their website, describing it as “one of the longest marathon record attempts in GWR history”.
“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,” it said.
“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.”
According to GWR, Ajao read over 100 books during his marathon, covering a wide range of subjects including finance, sales, management, leadership, politics, health, and mental wellness.
The rules for the record attempt were strict. Ajao was required to read aloud continuously from published works, with no more than a 30-second pause between items. He was allowed five minutes of rest time after each hour of reading, totalling two hours per day.
In an interview with NTA News, Ajao revealed the intensity of his commitment: “Even when it’s tough, you have to keep going to meet your target.”
Ajao’s motivation for the record attempt was to promote literacy and “inspire a reading culture in Nigeria”. His achievement was celebrated by supporters who paraded through the streets of Osogbo, including his proud parents.
The record-breaking attempt was witnessed by various dignitaries, including Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Ngozi Adeleke and Education Commissioner Dipo Eluwole.
GWR noted that this record has a rich history dating back to 1987, with previous record holders including Englishman Adrian Hilton and Nepal’s Deepak Sharma Bajagain. However, Ajao’s feat now “dwarfs” these previous records, surpassed in recent times only by DJ Faber Moreira’s 10-day DJ-ing marathon.
