Dapper Live Earns Guinness World Record for Afrobeats Orchestra

Iyke Bede

Dapper Live, the live events division of Dapper Group, recently earned recognition from Guinness World Records for staging the largest orchestra ever assembled for an afrobeats concert.

The record was achieved at ‘Trench Symphony: The Dapper Live Experience’, held on December 16, 2025, at the Balmoral Eko Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, where more than 80 orchestra members performed live alongside several afrobeats artists.

The concert featured performances by T.I Blaze, TML Vibez, Bhadboi OML, Rybeena, Lasmid, Cazulee, Kashcoming and DWillsHarmony, with guest appearances by Fuji musicians Saheed Osupa and KS1 Malaika.

Conceived and executive-produced by the Group Chief Executive Officer of Dapper Group, Damilola “Dapper” Akinwunmi, the concert sought to reinterpret afrobeats through orchestral performance. Musical direction was handled by Bazzman Sam, with conductors Fatola and Clintonic leading the orchestra.

Other members of the production team included multi-role coordinator Kelechi ‘Chopper’ Aquari, while the creative direction of the show was led by Director K. Sound supervision was handled by Temitayo “Tee Y Mix” Ibitoye with engineering by Mr Bassey. The event was directed by Dunni Akinwunmi, while Mojoyin of Owambe Events served as show producer.

Commenting on the achievement, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Dapper Group, Damilola ‘Dapper’ Akinwunmi, said the concert was designed to demonstrate the scale and creative potential of African music.

“Trench Symphony was born from a simple but powerful belief: that African music, in its truest and most authentic form, belongs on the world’s biggest stages. We did not set out simply to break a record, we set out to create a defining cultural moment. This achievement demonstrates what is possible when African vision, excellence and scale converge. From Lagos to the world, Afrobeats continues to expand its creative boundaries,” he said.

Following the record confirmation, Dapper Live said it plans to take ‘Trench Symphony’ on tour across ten Nigerian states in 2026 before expanding to international markets including London, Birmingham, Dublin, Paris and selected cities in Canada. Tour dates are expected to be announced in the coming months.