Top 10 Africa Guinness World Records

Africa has always been a continent of vibrant culture, diverse people, and inspiring achievements. In keeping with this, one of its native talents recently made history – Hilda Baci, a Nigerian chef, achieved the incredible feat of breaking the Guinness World Record for "Longest Cooking Time" by an individual.

Hilda's world record is just one of the many amazing feats that Africans have achieved throughout history. Africans have made remarkable accomplishments that have earned them a place in the Guinness World Book of Records, from the farthest walk on fire to the largest gathering of people dressed as Nelson Mandela.

This article takes a look at the 10 most famous African Guinness World Records, chronicling some of the most notable achievements by Africans that have had a major impact beyond the continent. The achievements are listed from most recent to oldest.

Chinonso Eche, a Nigerian footballer, has set four Guinness World Records for making the most consecutive football (soccer) touches in one minute while balancing a football on his head.

He achieved this impressive feat by making 133 touches during his appearance at "Lo Show Dei Record" in Milan, Italy on February 1, 2023, which is an astonishing 22 touches more than his previous record.

Wizkid, a renowned Nigerian musician, earned a place in the Guinness World Records in 2021, as his song “One Dance,” recorded with Canadian rapper Drake, became the first track to achieve one billion streams on Spotify. The record-breaking song was released in 2016, and topped the charts in several countries, making it one of the biggest hits of the year.

Wizkid, whose real name is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, is a highly successful musician and record producer, known for his unique blend of Afrobeat, reggae, and hip-hop. He has won numerous awards for his music, including BET and MOBO awards, and has collaborated with many top international artists like Beyoncé, Skepta, and Drake.

Maimela, along with the company BrainFarm, has set a Guinness World Record for the largest coffee grounds mosaic. The record was achieved on September 12, 2019, in Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa, with the coffee grounds mosaic measuring 25.96 square meters (279 square feet and 62 square inches).

The image depicted in the coffee grounds mosaic was the face of DJ Black Coffee, a popular South African DJ and record producer. The coffee grounds mosaic was created using thousands of coffee grounds carefully placed and arranged by a team of talented individuals.

Paul Kehinde, a Nigerian para powerlifter, set a Guinness World Record in 2018 by lifting the heaviest weight by a male in the 65-kg category. He lifted a staggering 221 kg (487 pounds and 3.5 ounces) at the 9th Fazza 2018 World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on February 19, 2018.

Kehinde's performance not only broke his own world record, but also demonstrated his exceptional strength and skill as a para powerlifter. He lifted weights that were well above his body weight, which requires a tremendous amount of focus, dedication, and hard work. His achievement was widely celebrated, and he became a source of inspiration to many people around the world, particularly in the athletics domain.

Wayde van Niekerk is a South African sprinter who gained international recognition for his exceptional performance in the 400-meter race. On August 14, 2016, at the Rio Olympics, van Niekerk shattered the longstanding world record in the men's 400 meters, achieving a time of 43.03 seconds. This extraordinary feat not only earned him an Olympic gold medal, but also secured him a place in the Guinness World Records.

Van Niekerk's record-breaking run in the 400 meters was remarkable for several reasons. First, he broke American sprinter Michael Johnson's 1999 world record of 43.18 seconds, which had stood for nearly two decades. Second, van Niekerk accomplished this feat from an unfavorable lane draw, running in lane 8, which is traditionally at a disadvantage due to the curve of the track. Despite the odds, he displayed remarkable speed, strength, and endurance to dominate the field with a commanding lead.

Tuedon Morgan, a Nigerian athlete, set a Guinness World Record in 2015 by becoming the fastest woman to run a half-marathon on every continent and the North Pole. She completed the challenge in just 62 days, 12 hours, 58 minutes, and 49 seconds.

Morgan's extraordinary record was set in just two months, when she ran half-marathons in eight different countries on six different continents, starting in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada and ending in Paris, France. Her challenges in Antarctica and the North Pole were particularly challenging due to the harsh climate and weather conditions. However, Morgan persevered and achieved her goal.

Stephen Keshi was a celebrated Nigerian football player and coach, who excelled in both roles. He played over 60 games for Nigeria, captaining the team and playing as a central defender. He was a vital part of the Nigerian victory in the African Cup of Nations in 1994, where he captained the team.

In 2013, Keshi became the youngest person to win the African Cup of Nations as a player and coach when he led Nigeria to success with a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso. In 1994, he won the same tournament as the captain of the Nigerian national team, leading them to a 2-1 victory over Zambia.

During the 2009 Berlin World Championships, South African athlete Caster Semenya set a new world record for the women's 800m race. She proved herself as the fastest runner in the preliminaries with a time of 1:58.66.

In the final race, Semenya took the lead from the halfway point and continued to increase the gap between herself and her competitors, ultimately winning her first World Championship gold medal with a remarkable time of one minute and 55.45 seconds.

Maruge, from Kenya, holds the Guinness World Record for the world's oldest person to start primary school. In 2004, at the venerable age of 84, he enrolled in Standard One at Kapkenduiyo Primary School in Eldoret, Kenya. Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge even wore a school uniform and attended classes and hoped to complete Standard Eight.

On April 6, 2004, it was reported that he had passed his first end-of-term exams with straight A's in English, Kiswahili, and math, making him one of the top five students in his class.

Fela Kuti was an iconic Nigerian musician and political activist who pioneered the Afrobeat movement. He was known for his distinctive style that encompassed a fusion of jazz, funk, and African rhythms. Fela used his music as a platform to address sociopolitical issues and advocate for the oppressed.

Over the course of his decades-long musical career, Fela recorded and released an impressive 46 studio albums, setting the Guinness World Record for the most studio albums released. Kuti's solo career spanned over 23 years, with his first solo album recorded in 1969 and his last in 1992 before his death.