ABIODUN NEJO writes that the botched 72 hours kiss-a-thon billed for Ekiti State has taken youths’ quest for Guinness World Records to the ludicrous level going by the accompanying criticisms
Although the Guinness World Records has always been there to honour accomplishments, it is like many Nigerians, especially the youths, are just waking up to it.
This followed the feat achieved by the 26 years old owner of My Food by Hilda, Hilda Bassey, popularly known as Chef Hilda Baci, who participated in GWR cooking marathon for longest hours by individual in May and set new record of 93 hours, 11 minutes.
Before Chef Baci, several Nigerians including Gbenga Ezekiel (most skips in a minute), Divine Ikubor (record for Calm Down), Bose Omolayo (para power lift), Bayo Omoboriowo (largest photo book) and Kafayat Shafau also known as Kaffy (longest dance party) had quietly broken and set GWR.
But the publicity stunt, attention, celebration, recognitions, fame and presents which Baci had while in the kitchen and after surpassing the record held by Lata Tondon, is believed in some quarters to have allured many youths, because since then, it has been intent to break one record or the other.
But some people believe that many of the youths see in Baci’s experience rays of possibility to break and set new GWR with determination, commitment and resilience.
Apart from fresh intents for the longest cooking by individual record set by Baci, others including cooking in private kitchen, massage, singing, dancing, listening to music, 144 hours lecture, 5000 hours prayer marathon, painting marathon, novel reading and watching movies have been announced.
It was even while Baci was awaiting GWR confirmation of her 100 hours cooking spree that a 22 years old student of Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Damilola Adeparusi, popularly known as Chef Dammy, began a 120-hour cook-a-thon.
The kudos and knocks for Dammy for her attempt had not abated when at Ile Oluji in Ondo State, a 26 years old graduate, Adeola Adeyeye, popularly known as Chef Deo on June 30 began a 150 hours cooking marathon which she concluded on July 6.
There are even instances of Joyce Ijeoma, who collapsed after 50 hours while undergoing 72 hours body massage and Oluwatobi Kufeyi, who began a 200 hours praise-a-thon for longest singing marathon on July 5.
But the bang came in Ekiti State when flyers were all over the social media space announcing a 72 hours kiss-a-thon, a three-day kissing marathon, billed to begin on Friday, July 7.
The organisers stated that the three-day kiss-a-thon is an “attempt to break the GWR for the longest kissing marathon”.
But Ekiti State Government kicked, saying, “kiss-a-thon runs counter to the values of Ekiti people and capable of plunging our youths morally backward”.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Dayo Apata (SAN), in a prohibition notice for the kiss-a-thon, said, “Pursuant to the provisions of the law and any other relevant laws applicable in Ekiti State, the proposed programme tagged kiss-a-thon is hereby prohibited throughout the breadth and length of Ekiti State.
“The state government considers it as an indecent act, absurd, unhealthy and capable of denigrating the image of Ekiti State and same is contrary to the law of Ekiti State. The planned kiss-a-thon programme is contrary to sections 148 and 150 of the Criminal Law (2021) which prohibits indecent acts and practices in the state.
“Anyone who violates the law is guilty of felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years. Any person or corporate body that allows himself/herself and facilities to be used in executing the programme in the state would be prosecuted before an appropriate court,” the AG said.
Similarly, the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti, Dare Ogundare, said, “The kiss-a-thon event is not just unethical, but illegal. The Command therefore declares a ban on the event or any other unlawful exercise across the state as anyone found wanting will be arrested and prosecuted”.
The CP, in a statement by the spokesperson, Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, warned hoteliers and event centre owners against the use of their facilities for such activity and implored Ekiti people “to be on the lookout and report such event observed in their locality to the nearest police station”.
A gender and youth advocate, Ms Oluwatumininu Adedeji, hailed the proactive step taken by the state government, which she said was in recognition of “the importance of promoting initiatives that foster societal impact, uphold our positive cultural values and preserve core fabrics of the society”.
Adedeji, who is the Executive Director of Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development, said, “The proposed kiss-a-thon event reflects a concerning trend of seeking cheap popularity rather than focusing on endeavours that promote intellectual excellence and societal advancement”.
She said, “Such an event centering on prolonged public display of physical intimacy sends negative vibes to impressionable minds. It perpetuates a culture of moral decadence and disrespect for our cultural heritage, which is the backbone of our society.
“Among many other negative effects of a kiss-a-thon is its potential to contribute to the sexualization and objectification of an individual’s body, particularly women and girls. It can undermine the importance of consent and the right to integrity of a person, lead to harassment with potential emotional distress or even coercion.
“Kiss-a-thon can potentially create an unsafe environment, especially for young girls who may be more vulnerable and lack assertiveness. In addition, public display of such affection and intimacy is against our religious and cultural belief as a people,” she said.
Adedeji, who said Nigerian youth are renowned for their intelligence, adventurous spirit, resilience, and innovation, advised, “As a society, we should encourage and support youth initiatives that prioritize productive, enterprising, and intellectually excellent pursuits.
“There are numerous avenues for young Nigerians to channel their talents and creativity towards endeavours that bring about positive change. From technology and innovation to entrepreneurship and community development, these fields offer immense opportunities for personal growth and societal transformation”, the BIGIF director said.
The Vice Chancellor, Venite University, Iloro Ekiti, Prof, James Olaogun, who said GWR was about achievements, queried, “What achievements are you making when you say you want to kiss for 72 hours? That is no achievement! That is at variance with our culture and that is why I applaud Ekiti State Government for banning such”.
Olaogun, who is a Professor of Sociology, said, “Sociologists will look for the value system inherent in what they have planned to do – what in our value system are they trying to portray? What are the norms or education system they are trying to portray?
“On cook-a-thon, we know that it is part of our value system for a lady to be groomed in home managerial activities which cooking is part of. There is nothing wrong about that. Kissing is not part of our culture, it is an alien culture to us. Kissing marathon does not portray any good behaviour or decency in our society, so we abhor it.
“You cannot say these youths don’t have anything to do, it is only laziness. They have a lot to do as far as society is concerned. I am so happy that the state government banned that. Kissing marathon is not anything that you will want to do for GWR,” the don said.
In his reaction, the Deputy President, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Ekiti State and the immediate past coordinator of National Council of Muslim Youths Organisations, Tajudeen Ahmed, said, “Kissing marathon is immoral and should not be given any room in our state and country”.
Ahmed hinged the latest quest by Nigerian youths to break or set GWR on having less to do, joblessness and crave for overnight attainment of overnight affluence, adding, “They believe that if they can attain a particular standard and they are noted in the GWR, then it will catapult them to affluence”.
The SCIA chieftain said,” It is unbecoming of a properly brought up Yoruba person to say that he is going to be kissing ad infinitum. It is immoral, it is lewd. In Islam, it is condemnable and it does not have any place as well in our tradition as Yoruba person. So, from whichever way you look at it, it is a condemnable endeavour.
“My position is that, even if our youths are planning to attain outstanding feats that could be recognized by GWR, I think we should think more of exhibition of skills, exhibition of activities that are honourable, that are more rewarding, not the ones that are too gross, lewd and immoral.
“I salute the position of the state government for coming out early enough to place a ban on the illegal and immoral activity. For us as Muslims, we don’t have anything to do with it, it is unholy and against the tenets of our religion,” Ahmed said.
In his reaction, the state chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Dr Emmanuel Aribasoye, who said kissing marathon could not add any value to anybody, advised, “Our youths should engage in better things that can give them better future. Where does kissing marathon come from in the face of all the hardship that people are going through?
“What has kissing marathon to contribute to our moral, spiritual and economic life? We don’t want that kind of activity. Our youths should move closer to God and engage themselves in productive and activities that can add value to them, that can enhance life and moral living,” the cleric said.
