Nigerian cinema achieved a monumental global milestone as the grand premiere of the highly anticipated crime thriller, “Black Market”, officially broke the Guinness World Record for the Largest Attendance at a Film Premiere/Screening.
The historic event took place at the iconic Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos Island, on Saturday, 26th September, 2026, drawing an unprecedented crowd of film lovers and industry stakeholders.
The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Kadri Hamzat, alongside the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, commended stakeholders in Nigeria’s creative industry following the successful attempt to set a new Guinness World Records title for the largest film premiere attendance at the premiere of “Black Market” in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Hamzat congratulated the organisers and thousands of Nigerians who turned out to support the historic record attempt, stressing that Nigeria is endowed with enormous creative talent and that the government has a responsibility to create the right infrastructure and opportunities for such talent to thrive.
The Deputy Governor said Lagos State remains committed to developing its cultural and creative industry, noting that the sector represents an important aspect of the State’s soft power and economic development.
He said that while government investment in roads, hospitals, and other physical infrastructure remains important, it must give equal attention to the creative and cultural space.
He highlighted Hollywood's global influence and urged Nollywood to keep expanding its global impact, noting the importance of partnerships and initiatives that can strengthen Nigeria’s creative economy.
Dr. Hamzat commended everyone who registered, attended and supported the record attempt, describing their participation as an important contribution to the growth of Lagos State and Nigeria’s creative industry.
He also encouraged attendees to remain calm and orderly as the verification process was being concluded, expressing optimism that the record attempt would be successful.
Earlier, the producer of Black Market, Nora Awolowo, welcomed the thousands of attendees who gathered for the premiere, describing the occasion as an experience that had grown beyond the film itself.
Awolowo noted that the gathering of thousands of people under one sky, united by one screen and one story, had made every attendee part of the historic moment.
She urged the audience to embrace and remember the significance of the occasion, describing it as an opportunity to demonstrate what can happen when people dare to dream beyond the ordinary.
Following the screening and verification process, Director of Central Record Services and Official Adjudicator for Guinness World Records, Mark McKinley, officially announced that the record attempt had been successful.
McKinley explained that only attendees who were present at both the beginning and end of the premiere could be counted towards the final record total. He added that attendees were permitted to leave the screening temporarily for comfort breaks, but anyone who failed to return or left the venue before the end of the film would not be included in the final count.
He noted that the previous record stood at 43,624 attendees, achieved in 2015 in the Philippines.
After reviewing the relevant documentation, personally witnessing the attempt and completing the required guideline verifications, McKinley announced that the team from Switch Visuals Limited and Rizzle Studios had achieved a total attendance of 51,258, thereby setting a new Guinness World Records title.
He also commended Switch Visuals, Executive Producer, GWR Event, Damilola Osikoya, and Rizzle Studios, Producer, BlackMarket Movie, Nora Awolowo, for what he described as exceptional organisation and leadership in executing the record-breaking event.
The historic premiere featured music, food and games. The event attracted notable personalities and celebrities, including Executive Producer BlackMarket Movie, Omowumi Dada, Femi Adebayo, Gabriel Afolayan, Bimpe Adedimeji, Real Warri Pikin and Tomi Ojo, among others.
The event was supported by the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, alongside several corporate partners, reinforcing Lagos State’s commitment to the growth of tourism, arts, culture and the creative economy.
“Black Market” is a crime thriller directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay and produced by Nora Awolowo. The film stars Omowunmi Dada, Lateef Adedimeji, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Scarlet Gomez, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok, Ibrahim Yekini (Itele D Icon), and Uzor Arukwe, among others.
The achievement further underscores Lagos’ growing position as a hub for entertainment, cultural expression and creative enterprise, while showcasing the capacity of Nigeria’s film industry to achieve milestones of international recognition.
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