Black Market Breaks Guinness Record With 51,000 Viewers

Nollywood crime thriller Black Market has broken the Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a film screening in a single location, with 51,000 viewers at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos.

The record-breaking screening took place on Saturday as thousands of movie lovers gathered at the Lagos venue for the highly anticipated premiere.

Guinness World Records officially recognised 51,000 viewers after confirming that the qualifying attendance was based on people who watched the film from beginning to end.

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Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat seated with other dignitaries during the Guinness World Record-breaking screening of ‘Black Market’ at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. Credit: Channels TV.

Although Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat announced that 64,000 people attended the event, Guinness World Records recognised 51,000 as the official qualifying figure.

The announcement prompted loud cheers, celebrations and fireworks across the venue, as organisers and attendees marked the record.

Organisers had targeted 50,000 simultaneous viewers to surpass the previous record of 43,624 people, set in 2015 during a screening of the Filipino film Felix Manalo at the Philippine Arena.

Earlier on Saturday, long queues formed around TBS as movie lovers arrived for the event, with the gates opening at 2 pm.

The red carpet began at about 3 pm, while the main screening started at 7 pm, with music, food, games, and other entertainment for attendees.

Black market (NC) — Nollywood couple Stan Nze and Blessing Obasi at the Guinness World Record-breaking screening of ‘Black Market’ at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. Credit: Channels TV.

The event attracted several government officials and Nollywood stars, including Deputy Governor Hamzat, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture Toke Benson, Lateef Adedimeji, Kunle Remi, Stan Nze, Linda Ejiofor, Gabriel Afolayan and Kunle Afolayan.

Directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay and co-written by Gimsay and Abdul Tijani-Ahmed, Black Market follows five women involved in a cross-border smuggling operation whose lives are thrown into turmoil after one of their daughters is kidnapped.

Nollywood Movie Black Market — Omowunmi Dada, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, and Scarlet Gomez, captured in character during the Abeokuta shoot for Nollywood’s Black Market. Credit: BellaNaija.

The film stars Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Lateef Adedimeji, Omowunmi Dada, Scarlet Gomez, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok, Itele D Icon and Uzor Arukwe, among others.

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Deborah Akwa

Deborah Akwa is a content writer with over four years of experience creating brand stories, editorial content, and audience-focused articles on topics like health, lifestyle, and entertainment.

When she isn't writing, she is behind the scenes managing editorial operations and helping the content team work better.

She loves using words to connect brands with their audiences. Outside of work, she enjoys watching movies and engaging in thought-provoking conversations.