Why are Guinness World Records being smashed in Ghana and Nigeria?

What in the World

• Episode: Why are Guinness World Records being smashed in Ghana and Nigeria?
• Website: What in the World
• Feed URL: https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/w13xtvrv.rss
• Duration: 00:14:52
• Published: 2024-01-12 16:26

Hundreds of people have been trying to set new world records in Ghana, with applications flying in since July 2023.

Earlier this week a Ghanaian chef, Faila Abdul-Razak, completed the longest non-stop cook-a-thon, chopping and frying for more than 227 hours. She hasn’t yet officially been given the title.

She isn’t the first to try though - last year a Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci, broke the world record, jumpstarting a trend for breaking world records in Nigeria too.

So why are there so many attempts in Ghana and Nigeria? Our reporter in Accra, Favour Nunoo, runs us through some theories.

We also chat to Afua Asantewaa - a Ghanaian who’s attempted to set the Guinness World Record for the longest singing marathon. She managed five days straight.

And William from the What in the World team demonstrates a hidden talent that definitely breaks our records! (12:00) Plus AFCON, the Africa Cup of Nations, kicks off this weekend with Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau as the opening match. Teams like Morocco, Senegal and Egypt are among the favourites to win the tournament - but we find out from the BBC’s Isaac Fanin how one man used the video game Football Manager to try to give underdogs Guinea-Bissau an advantage.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Emily Horler and Mora Morrison Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks