By Washira Helene
The news has been awash in the past few weeks about the achievement of the Nigerian cook who broke the world record for the highest number of hours spent cooking. She was subsequently challenged by a Liberian chef, drawing the ire of so many on social media.
We take you across a list of some of the current Black record holders and dare to wonder why for its 67 years of existence, the Guinness World Records (GWR) is yet to count a Cameroonian in its prestigious book of challengers.
What is the Guinness Book of World Records?
The Guinness Book of World Records which kickstarted in 1955, is a British reference book published annually listing world records both of human achievements and the extremes of the natural world. The book cofounded by twin brothers Norris and Ross McWhirter in Fleet Street, London, today counts more than 53,000 records in its database.
The Guinness World Records challenge is open to every race of people who think they have what it takes to astonish the world in any domain they desire. Since its creation, we have seen wonderful types of innovations in terms of creativity and still await to see a Cameroonian break into such a challenge despite the important number of Blacks who have made their way into this book of fame.
When will a Cameroonian enter this prestigious book?
Cameroon just like other countries has a lot to boast of when it comes to creativity. The Cameroon sphere of influence cannot be ignored when it comes to her rich culture, music, sports, education, and many more but we are yet to see someone attempting an already existing challenge or creating one.
Many Cameroonians outstand when it comes to education and research, many outstand when it comes to football, and many outstand when it comes to music. Should we mention our strength when it comes to the consumption of alcohol (a field in which a record can be broken).
MMI recently celebrated some Cameroonians who are leading their fields and taking the world by storm, however, none of their current achievements breaks a new record. Hence, it will be our pride to see many Cameroonians out of our 25 million population, own the prestigious Guinness World Records recognition despite it not being financially supported.
What is the reward for Breaking a Guinness World Record?
Contrary to what many people believe, entering the Guinness Book of World Records does not have any type of economic compensation.
Therefore, you will not receive a single Franc, Euro, Naira, Pound, or Dollar for breaking a record. However, beyond the money, they do get a great recognition, besides the pride of being the best at something.
The institution’s own regulations specify that those who beat an existing record, as well as those who set a new record, are not paid anything.
“As the world’s foremost authority on world records, our role is to celebrate the best in the world, to inspire all people, to entertain and to inform,” state Guinness World Records.
“For those reasons, we do not pay record breakers for their achievements or for making an official record title attempt. Nor can we cover any expenses, offer sponsorship or provide equipment for the performance of any official record attempt” the GWR continues.
Top 10 Black Guinness World Holders
Let’s have a quick top 10 Black Guinness World Records Holders.
1. Barack Hussein Obama II was inaugurated as the 44th President of the USA on 20 January 2009. This record follows a record-breaking campaign that made him the first African American President of the United States of America.
2. Oprah Winfrey. She is one of the most popular television personalities. Her Guinness World Records title relates to her overwhelming success. Between June 2009 and June 2010, Oprah Winfrey earned an estimated $275 million from her magazine, radio contract, production company Harpo and the debut of the Oprah Winfrey Network.
She also has the record for the largest TV contract, after she signed a deal in 2003 for $279 million with the American TV station, ABC, to host The Oprah Winfrey Show for an extra two years until 2008.
3. Kobe Bryant. The Late Kobe made history early on in his career at the age of 18 years 158 days, when he started his first NBA game for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Dallas Mavericks on 28 January 1997, breaking the record for being the world’s youngest NBA player to start a game.
4. Michael Jordan—Highest point-scoring average in an NBA career. He has the world’s highest point-scoring average for players exceeding 10,000 points at 30.1 and scored 32,292 points in 1,072 games for the Chicago Bulls, 1984-98, and the Washington Wizards 2001-03.
5. Serena Williams – Oldest tennis Female Grand Slam singles winner. She holds the most Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles combined among active players. Not only did Serena Williams win the Australian Open while three months pregnant in 2017, she also broke the record during that tournament for being the world’s oldest tennis Grand Slam singles winner, having achieved her 23rd Grand Slam singles title at 35 years and 124 days.
6. Muhammad Ali – Most Boxing Fighter of the Year Awards
Nicknamed “The Greatest” for a reason, Muhammad Ali is one of the most significant sports figures of all time. Also known for being the leading heavyweight boxer of the 20th century, with success as a musician and receiving two Grammy nominations. From the culmination of his success, he was ultimately named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine six times, the most of any boxer, earning him a place on the list of Guinness World Records held by black people.
7. Stevie Wonder – Most Grammy Awards won by a solo pop performer ever. Stevie Wonder has made an incredible impact in the music industry as a talented performer, singer, songwriter, and record producer, and he bags a place in the list of Guinness World Records held by black people. Over the course of Stevie’s career, he has become the record holder for the most Grammy Awards won by a solo pop performer ever with 22 awards. He has won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance six times since 1973; his 22nd award was for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals which he shared with Tony Bennett, on 11 February 2007.
8. Ayo Balogun popularly known as Wizkid, is an international and Nigerian Afrobeat artist who holds a Guinness world record for the first track to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify with the hit song « one dance » which is a collaboration song between him and Canadian rapper Drake.
9. Divine Ikubor; popularly known as Rema is the first African artist to top the Middle Eastern North Africa Chart commonly known as MENA. He did this with his popular hit song « Calm Down» released on February 11th, 2022, and was one of the fastest songs to get over 100 million streams on Spotify.
10. The most recent African to attempt a Guinness World Record is the Nigerian cook Hilda Bacci who as of now carries the record for longest cooking hour with 100 hours. She broke the record of 87 hours: 45 minutes: 00 seconds set by chef Lata Tondon in Rewa India in 2019. Hilda’s name is yet to be featured in the Guinness book of Records.
There you have it. This is not an exhaustive list as there is a long list of Black Guinness World Records breakers.
Will you love to see a Cameroonian attempt such a record-breaking challenge?
Suggest some of the fields in which one could venture into, in an attempt in breaking the Guinness World Records in Cameroon.
