In Nigeria, a craze for eccentric feats of endurance has taken hold, with many attempting to break Guinness World Records. Recently, a man named Tembu Ebere made headlines as he forced himself to cry non-stop for seven days, encountering physical challenges like headaches, puffy eyes, a swollen face, and even temporary blindness for 45 minutes. Despite the difficulties, he remains determined to reach his target.
This record-breaking frenzy was sparked by a chef named Hilda Baci, who aimed to cook continuously for 100 hours to promote Nigerian cuisine. Her attempt gained widespread attention, causing the official Guinness World Records website to crash for two days. Although she fell short of the 100-hour mark, her feat inspired others to try similar records, such as singing, praying, and reading classic literature aloud for extended periods.
John Obot, a schoolteacher, will attempt to spend 140 hours reading classic literature aloud in September to promote a reading culture in Nigeria.
However, some of these stunts have faced criticism for being frivolous or offensive. Notably, a suggested world record attempt for kissing was banned in Ekiti state, and authorities warned of punishments for organizers if they proceeded with it.