A Nigerian artist, Nuel Geoffrey, is attempting to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest drawing by mouth by an individual.
Geoffrey is carrying out the solo attempt on the basketball court of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnique, formerly Abia State Polytechnic, in Aba, Southeast Nigeria.
“I try break Guinness World Record for largest drawing by a mouth by an individual. I try break this record because I want change the narrative where they get for artist. Everybody think say being an artist that just to draw portrait. But no, I want change them. To be an artist, you fit do plenty other things,” Geoffrey said.
The artist has faced numerous challenges during the attempt. “When the sun is shining, it’s beating me. When the rain is falling, it’s beating me. And so far, I’ve been getting skin reaction. Without the sunscreen, my teeth, they ache me. The lower incisors by the left and the upper one, they don shake already. Blisters they do me from my knee and my elbow too,” he explained.
Geoffrey had previously attempted another Guinness record last year for most faces painted in one hour, but that attempt did not succeed. “I dey sure as I go win this one. As I go win this one, I go open the eye of creatives around Abia State precisely. They go know say you fit do anything anywhere, even where other people dey look down on cities. Nobody go fit stop you,” he said.
The closest existing record is the “largest painting by mouth by an individual,” held by Shrishail Gasti from India, who achieved 93.97 square meters in 2017. For the general “largest drawing by an individual” (not using mouth), Nigerian artist Fola David-Tolaram holds the record with 1,004.7 square meters, achieved in Lagos on July 21, 2024.
Geoffrey’s attempt is different because he is using only his mouth to draw. The attempt began around April 13-17, 2026, with activities continuing through April 23-27.
