10 Nigerians You Didn’t Know Were Guinness World Record Holders

There has never been a bigger frenzy about the Guinness World Records than when Hilda Baci attempted it in 2023. Hilda’s GWR was not just a win for her, it was a harbinger of many more records for Africans, particularly, Nigerians. It sort of jolted people out of a dream and made them realize; “If Hilda can do it, so can I.”

Beyond the recent GWR holders like Fola David, Brian and Israel, Nigeria has had a crop of its citizens break existing records and set new ones. Here’s a list of Nigerians you didn’t know were in the Guinness Book of Records.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti

The late Nigerian music (Afrobeats) legend and activist, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, holds the Guinness World Record for the most studio album recordings released.

He achieved this huge milestone when he recorded 46 albums as a solo artist over the course of his solo career which lasted for 23 years.

Stephen Keshi

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi CON was a Nigerian football player and manager. During his playing career, Keshi played as a defender and earned 60 caps for the Nigeria national team, making him the nation’s second-most capped player at the time of his retirement.

He also holds the Guinness World Record for the youngest person to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and coach.

Mode 9

Babatunde Olusegun Adewale, popularly known as Mode9, is a British-born Nigerian rapper who has won nine Headies: Best Rap Album (Malcolm IX – The Lost Sessions, 2004), Best Rap Single (“Cry”, 2007), and seven “Lyricist on the Roll” awards (2006–11 and 2013).

He holds the Guinness World Records for the most Headies won.

Bayo Omoboriowo

Bayo Omoboriowo is a Nigerian photojournalist and documentary photographer. He was the official photographer to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Bayo is the author of several books, including Discover Nigeria, an extensive photo and text documentary on Nigeria’s people, places, and culture.

In 2021, Discover Nigeria set a Guinness World Record for the largest photobook, measuring 60.84 square metres.

Wizkid

The commander of the Wizkid FC, Ayo Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, isn’t left out on the list of Nigerian GWR holders.

He holds a Guinness World Record for being the artist with the first track to reach one billion streams on Spotify. He was able to hit this mark following his collaboration with Drake on the hit single “One Dance” in December 2016., which reached number-one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in 14 additional countries.

Flora Ugwunwa

She is a Nigerian Paralympic athlete competing in F54-classification events. She represented Nigeria at the 2016 Summer Paralympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and she won the gold medal in the women’s javelin throw F54 event.

She also set a new world record of 20.25m at this event. This earned her a spot in the GWR hall of fame as a record holder for the farthest female F54 javelin throw in 2016.

DJ Yin

Oyinka Asu-Johnson, professionally known as DJ Yin, is a Nigerian-based DJ, singer and songwriter.

She broke the world record for the longest DJ set in October 2021 where she operated her set for 243 hours and 30 minutes at The Grill by Yanna, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The record was previously held by a Nigerian, DJ Obi, when he performed for 230 hours at the Sao Cafe in Lagos, Nigeria.

Paul Kehinde

Paul Kehinde was a Nigerian Para powerlifter. He was born in Epe, in Lagos state, Nigeria. He competed in the men’s 65 kg class and also occasionally in the 72 kg class.

In December 2018, Paul Kehinde set a Guinness World Record for the heaviest para power lift by a male in the -65 kg category: 221 kg (487 lb 3.5 oz), breaking his previous world record of 220.5 kg, set at the World Championship in December 2017.

Rema

Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema (Rave Lord), made history in May 2023 as the first artist to top the MENA charts, setting a new Guinness Book of Records.

His song ‘Calm Down’ secured the first number 1 hit on the world’s first regional streaming chart and first-ever official chart in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), making him a GWR holder.

Tobi Amusan

Oluwatobiloba Ayomide Amusan, popularly known as Tobi Amusan, OON is a Nigerian track and field athlete specializing in the 100 meters hurdles and also competing as a sprinter.

In 2022, Tobi Amusan set the record for the fastest female 100-metre hurdle at 12.12 seconds at the athletics championships in Oregon and made the Guinness World Book record for it.

Her record remains unbroken till date.

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