Nollywood has broken the Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a film screening after more than 51,000 people gathered to watch Black Market in Lagos.
A Guinness World Records official announced the attendance figure at Tafawa Balewa Square on Saturday night, confirming that the screening had exceeded the previous record.
FilmOne, the film’s distributor, also announced the result in a statement shared on its social media platforms. “51,000+ people. One screen. One moment that just made history,” the company said.
The previous Guinness World Records figure was 43,624 people at a screening of the Philippine film Felix Manalo in 2015. The organisation’s website still displayed that figure when checked on Sunday, although it notes that new records do not always appear online immediately.
Saturday’s turnout also surpassed the 50,000-person target set by the filmmakers when they announced the record attempt.
Film lovers began arriving at Tafawa Balewa Square in the afternoon. The gates opened at about 2 pm, but queues grew as more people entered the venue. At one point, a line stretched towards the TBS roundabout.
A red-carpet session began at about 3 pm. Music, food and games were also part of the programme ahead of the screening, which had been scheduled for between 7 pm and 8.30 pm.
Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat arrived at about 8.50pm. Actor Gabriel Afolayan, actress Tomi Ojo and comedian Real Warri Pikin were among the personalities spotted at the event.
The large gathering was more than a bid for a record, according to actress and producer Omowunmi Dada, whose Signet Ring Studios worked on the film.
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In an earlier Guardian Life interview about Black Market, Dada said she wanted the screening to bring back the experience of watching a Nigerian film with friends, relatives and neighbours. She also spoke about using Signet Ring Studios to give women more control over the stories they tell.
Black Market follows five market women caught up in a cross-border smuggling operation during a period of fuel scarcity and economic pressure. Their situation becomes more dangerous when the daughter of one of the women is kidnapped.
Fatimah Binta Gimsay directed the film, while Nora Awolowo produced it. The cast includes Dada, Lateef Adedimeji, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Scarlet Gomez, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok, Ibrahim Yekini, popularly known as Itele D Icon, and Uzor Arukwe.
Rixel Studios, Signet Ring Studios and FilmOne Studios produced the film, with FilmOne handling distribution. Switch Visuals Productions also worked on the screening, which received support from the Lagos State Government and corporate partners.
The Guardian
