The film Black Market made history on Saturday at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, Nigeria, by setting a new Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a single film screening. According to actress Omowunmi Dada, over 51,000 viewers gathered simultaneously to watch the premiere, surpassing the existing world record of 43,624 attendees. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.
The organisers of the event had set a target of 50,000 simultaneous viewers to beat the previous record set in 2015 during the screening of the Filipino film Felix Manalo at the Philippine Arena. The historic screening drew dignitaries, film lovers, and industry stakeholders, including Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State and Lagos APC Governorship Candidate for 2027. Hamzat was present at the screening, joining thousands to watch Black Market as it made its push for the Guinness World Record.
Guinness World Records later confirmed the feat, officially recognising 51,000 viewers as the qualifying attendance for the new record. Although Hamzat announced that 64,000 people attended the event, Guinness World Records clarified that the qualifying figure was based strictly on viewers who stayed from the beginning to the end of the film. The announcement was met with loud cheers, jubilation, and fireworks from the crowd at Tafawa Balewa Square.
The record attempt was driven by a collaboration between Switch Visuals Productions and Rixel Studios. Switch Visuals handled the event production, while Rixel Studios, led by filmmaker Nora Awolowo, is the production company behind Black Market. Organisers transformed TBS into an entertainment hub, with music, food, games, and other activities engaging the crowd for hours before the screening, creating a festival-like atmosphere to accommodate the massive turnout.
Black Market, directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay and co-written by Gimsay and Abdul Tijani-Ahmed, is Rixel Studios' second feature film after Red Circle. The film was shot in Abeokuta and features an ensemble cast, including Lateef Adedimeji, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Ibrahim Yekini, Scarlet Gomez, Omowunmi Dada, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok, and Uzor Arukwe. The film's premiere was a highly anticipated event, and its success has generated significant buzz in the Nigerian film industry.
The Guinness World Record achievement is a testament to the growing popularity of Nollywood and the increasing interest in Nigerian films. The event showcased the country's rich cultural heritage and its vibrant film industry, which continues to attract global attention. The record-breaking screening of Black Market has set a new standard for film premieres in Nigeria and has paved the way for future productions to push the boundaries of what is possible.
The success of Black Market's record-breaking screening is a significant achievement for the film's production team and the Nigerian film industry as a whole. The film's cast and crew have expressed their excitement and gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the event. The Guinness World Record achievement is expected to have a positive impact on the Nigerian film industry, inspiring future productions and cementing Nollywood's position as a major player in the global film industry.
Key points
- The film Black Market set a new Guinness World Record with 51,000 viewers at TBS.
- The record-breaking screening was a collaboration between Switch Visuals Productions and Rixel Studios.
- The film's premiere was a highly anticipated event that showcased Nigeria's rich cultural heritage and vibrant film industry.
