Mombasa chef Yusuf Garani completes 130-hour barbecue marathon in historic Guinness record bid
By William Muthama, August 8, 2026Mombasa-based chef Yusuf Garani has completed his gruelling 130-hour barbecue marathon, surpassing the previous Guinness World Record for the longest barbecue marathon in a historic endurance feat.
Garani brought the marathon to an end on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Swahilipot Hub in Mombasa, after more than five days of continuous barbecuing.
The chef had set out on Sunday, August 2, 2026, with the ambitious goal of completing 130 hours and breaking the existing record of 98 hours and 8 minutes, set by South African chef Gielie Basson in 2025.
After completing the challenge, Garani took to Instagram on Saturday, August 8, 2026, to celebrate the achievement and thank the people who supported him throughout the demanding journey.
“We finally hit the end of the road 🥳. It was a hard journey but Alhamdulillah we made it. I’m thankful to all who supported me through this tough journey. I really appreciate the mob love.”
Garani’s completion means he has surpassed the previous 98-hour, 8-minute benchmark by more than 31 hours.
History made in Mombasa
The marathon attracted support from members of the public, with Kenyans turning up at Swahilipot Hub to cheer Garani on during the record attempt.
Earlier in the challenge, as he approached the 24-hour mark, Garani thanked supporters for helping him maintain his momentum.
“The team is giving us power, and every walk-in from our amazing people is proof that we carry the same vision together,” he said.
The public was invited to attend the event free of charge, with organisers also providing a free barbecue for attendees throughout the marathon.
Garani pushes beyond previous record
Garani had initially announced a target of 130 hours, giving himself a significant margin over Basson’s previous record of 98 hours and 8 minutes.
As the hours passed, supporters urged him to continue beyond the previous record and ultimately complete his planned 130-hour target.
His successful completion now marks a major milestone in his record-breaking bid.
However, surpassing the previous mark during the live attempt does not by itself mean Guinness World Records has officially certified the new record.
Evidence from the attempt must be submitted to Guinness World Records and reviewed against its official guidelines before a new record holder is formally confirmed.