Guinness World Records has officially recognized Samson Ajao’s achievement of reading aloud for 215 hours, marking it as one of the longest marathon records in the organization’s history.
Ajao, hailing from Osogbo in Osun State, surpassed the previous record of 124 hours set by Rysbai Isakov from Kyrgyzstan in 2022.
According to a statement from GWR, Ajao read continuously from published texts with no more than a 30-second break between readings. The statement elaborates:
“Samson Ajao, a 27-year-old from Osogbo, Nigeria, has set the record for the longest marathon reading aloud, lasting 215 hours—just shy of nine full days.
“To qualify, the participant must read aloud from published materials with breaks no longer than 30 seconds between texts.
“Following GWR’s guidelines for ‘longest marathon’ records, Samson took five-minute breaks after each hour of reading, amounting to two hours per day for rest. During these intervals, he was allowed to eat, sleep, use the bathroom, or change clothes.”
“After achieving this feat, Samson and his supporters celebrated with a parade through the streets. His parents were among the celebrants, expressing their pride in his remarkable accomplishment.
“This is not only the longest marathon reading aloud ever recorded but also one of the most extended marathon records in GWR history, recently surpassed only by DJ Faber Moreira’s 10-day DJ-ing marathon.”
In a separate interview with NTA News, Ajao revealed that he did not sleep during his breaks, stating, “Even when it’s challenging, you have to push through to reach your goal.”
