Damilola Osikoya, Nora Awolowo Make Guinness World Records History With Black Market

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Nigerian filmmakers Damilola Osikoya and Nora Awolowo have made Guinness World Records history after the premiere of Black Market drew 51,258 people to a single film screening at Tafawa Balewa Square ( TBS), Lagos.

The screening, held on September 26, 2026, set a new record for the largest attendance at a film screening according to Guinness World Records. The organisation confirmed that 51,258 people watched the film from beginning to end, taking the record from the previous holder, Felix Manalo which drew 43,624 people to a screening at the Philippine Arena in 2015. 

The record breaking event was the result of a collaboration between Switch Visuals led by Osikoya, and Rixel Studios founded by Nora Awolowo. Guinness World Records lists Damilola, Switch Visual Limited, Awolowo and Rixel Studios as the record holders. 

The scale of the screening had been planned months before the record was achieved, Organisers initially set a target of 50,000 people for the September 26 premiere, with the intention of surpassing the existing Guinness World Records mark. The official Black Market website described the event as an attempt to bring 50,000 Nigerians together at TBS for a simultaneous viewing of the film. 

Damilola was responsible for the event production, the official Black Market credits list her as Event Production Producer while Switch Visuals is identified as the production partner behind the event.  The production involved sponsors and partners including Zenith Bank, Oraimo, Johnnie Walker Blonde, the Lagos State Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Swoop.  Nora through Rixel Studios, was one of the producers of Black Market.  The film’s official credits her as a producer and executive producer, alongside Nicole Ofoegbu, Omowunmi Dada and other members of the production team.

The screen play Black Market was directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay, who also co-wrote the film with Abdul Tijani-Ahmed. Awolowo’s Rixel Studios produced the film, with the project bringing together several women working across directing, producing, cinematography and event production. 

The film follows five market women who operate a smuggling business across the Nigerian border. Their operation is disrupted when one of the women’s daughters is kidnapped, forcing the group into a dangerous attempt to rescue her. The cast includes Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Omowunmi Dada, Scarlet Gomez, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok, Lateef Adedimeji, Ibrahim Yekini, Uzor Arukwe and others. 

The record attempt was publicly announced well before the event. In July, Rixel Studios said it intended to gather 50,000 people at TBS, with the premiere organised in collaboration with FilmOne Studios, Signet Ring Studios and Switch Visuals Production. 

By the night of the premiere, the target had been exceeded, Guinness World Record’s final figure was lower than some estimates announced at the venue because its official count was based on the people who remained for the full screening. The verified 51,258 viewers were  the figure used for the world record.

This achievement also attracted recognition from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who congratulated Damilola and Nora on September 28. In a statement released by the State House, Tinubu identified the two filmmakers by their respective companies and described the record as an achievement for Nigeria’s creative industry. 

The congratulations came after the Guinness World Records confirmation had already established Damilola and Nora, as the official record holders, with 51,258 people gathered for one screening. Black Market has now entered the Guinness World Records alongside the women whose production and filmmaking work brought the ambitious premiere to life.