Nollywood has recorded another international milestone after ‘Black Market’, a Nigerian crime thriller, attracted 51,000 qualifying viewers at its premiere screening held at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
The attendance figure surpassed the previous Guinness World Records record for the largest audience at a single-location film screening, previously held by the Filipino movie ‘Felix Manalo’, which recorded 43,624 viewers at the Philippine Arena in 2015.
With the new figure, ‘Black Market’ exceeded the previous record by 7,376 viewers.
The Lagos premiere attracted several dignitaries, including Lagos State Deputy Governor and governorship candidate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson.
While organisers and reports from the event estimated total attendance at about 64,000 people, Guinness World Records recognised 51,000 as the official qualifying audience.
The certified figure was based on viewers who stayed through the required duration of the screening, meaning the official record count was lower than the total number of people who attended the event.
The announcement of the record triggered celebrations at the venue, with the crowd cheering as fireworks were displayed to mark the achievement.
Several Nollywood actors and personalities were also present, including members of the film’s cast such as Lateef Adedimeji, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Omowunmi Dada, Scarlet Gomez, Uzor Arukwe, Ibrahim Yekini, popularly known as Itele D Icon, and Susan Pwajok.
Directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay and produced by Nora Awolowo, ‘Black Market’ centres on five women involved in a cross-border smuggling operation amid fuel shortages and economic difficulties.
The story takes a darker turn after the daughter of one of the women is kidnapped, placing the group’s operation, relationships and survival at risk.
