Black Market, directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay and produced by Nora Awolowo, has officially broken the Guinness World Record for the largest audience at a film screening in a single location. The crime thriller premiere had over 51,000 thousand attendees present for the screening at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.
The Nollywood movie has set a new record after surpassing the previous record of 43,624 viewers. Distributed by FilmOne, Black Market follows the story of five women managing illegal fuel smuggling operations during an economic crisis. The film explores themes such as family, survival, and loyalty as the women’s operation faces chaos after a rival kidnaps one of their daughters.
The filmmakers aimed to attract at least 50,000 viewers to surpass the record set by the Filipino Film ‘Felix Manalo‘ in 2015, but the event was attended by a larger crowd, with reports of about 64,000 people present, only 51,000 were recognized for the record. According to Nollywood Times, the announcement of the world record win was made by Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat during the screening of the film.
Black Market features a stellar ensemble cast, including Lateef Adedimeji, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Itele D Icon, Scarlet Gomez, Omowunmi Dada, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok, Uzor Arukwe, Andrew Yaw, Kanaga Jr, Toye Arimoro, Shamz Garuba, Folagade Banks, and Tomiwa Tegbe.
The Achievement made by Black Market is more than just a personal triumph for the filmmakers – it is a resounding victory for Nollywood and for Nigeria as a whole. This recognition amplifies the creative voices of Nigerian storytellers, strengthens the cultural footprint, and inspires the next generation of filmmakers to dream even bigger. In celebrating this milestone, Nollywood reaffirms its place as a powerful force in shaping Africa’s narrative and Nigeria’s pride on the world stage.
