Guinness World Records has officially recognized Samson Ajao’s extraordinary achievement of reading aloud for 215 hours, marking it as one of the longest marathon record attempts in the history of GWR.
This accomplishment was detailed in an article on GWR’s website published on Wednesday.
According to the GWR, Ajao, who hails from Osogbo, Nigeria, read over 100 books covering a wide range of topics including finance, management, leadership, politics, health, and mental wellness. The previous record of 124 hours was held by Rysbai Isakov of Kyrgyzstan, set in 2022. Ajao surpassed this mark by reading for nearly nine continuous days.
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The GWR article elaborated, “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.”
Ajao accumulated five minutes of rest time after each hour of reading, totaling two hours of rest per day. During these breaks, he was allowed to eat, sleep, use the bathroom, or change his clothes. Before the attempt, he consulted medical professionals to ensure his diet and hydration would help maintain his voice and minimize bathroom breaks.
In an interview with NTA News, Ajao mentioned, “Even when it’s tough, you have to keep going to meet your target.” His motivation was to advance literacy and foster a reading culture in Nigeria. After completing the marathon, Ajao and his supporters celebrated in the streets of Osogbo, with his parents expressing immense pride in his achievement.
The record attempt was observed by several dignitaries, including Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Ngozi Adeleke and Education Commissioner Dipo Eluwole. GWR noted the historical context of such records, highlighting past feats including Adrian Hilton’s 110-hour reading of Shakespeare in 1987 and Deepak Sharma Bajagain’s 113-hour attempt in 2008.
GWR concluded, “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.”
