Lagos film premiere draws crowds for Guinness World Records screening attempt

Hundreds of movie lovers gathered at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos on Saturday as the Nollywood film Black Market attempted to set a Guinness World Record for the largest audience at a film screening in one location. The screening was scheduled as both the film’s premiere and a record attempt. Organisers said they were targeting an audience of 50,000 people, while long queues formed after the gates opened at about 2pm.

The reported existing benchmark is 43,624 people, recorded in 2015 during a screening of the Filipino film Felix Manalo at the Philippine Arena. The organisers’ website said the Lagos event was intended to bring 50,000 Nigerians together for one simultaneous screening. The film was scheduled to run from 7pm to 8.30pm.

The final outcome of the attempt will depend on the number of people present and the verification procedures required by Guinness World Records. Black Market is directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay and produced by Nora Awolowo. Its cast includes Omowunmi Dada, Lateef Adedimeji, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Scarlet Gomez, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok, Ibrahim Yekini and Uzor Arukwe.

The crime thriller follows five market women who become involved in cross-border smuggling amid fuel shortages and economic pressure. The story changes direction after the daughter of one of the women is kidnapped. The event has support from the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, as well as corporate partners.

Organisers had announced the opening time and screening schedule ahead of the event, but no verified record result was included in the report. Attendance records and the required verification process will therefore determine whether the screening surpasses the reported benchmark.