Dapper Live, the live events division of Africa’s entertainment powerhouse Dapper Group, has officially secured a Guinness World Record™ for the Largest Orchestra for an Afrobeats Concert. This historic achievement was set during Trench Symphony: The Dapper Live Experience, held on December 16, 2025, at the Balmoral Eko Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
The record-breaking concert brought together over 80 orchestra members performing alongside some of Afrobeats’ most exciting artists, solidifying Afrobeats’ place on the global orchestral stage.
Trench Symphony: Afrobeats Meets Orchestral Grandeur
Dubbed the “Trenches Opera,” Trench Symphony was conceived and executive produced by Damilola “Dapper” Akinwunmi, Group CEO of Dapper Group. The concert uniquely fused the rhythmic energy of Afrobeats with the symphonic depth of a full orchestra, delivering an unprecedented live music experience.
Performances featured Dapper Group artists T.I Blaze, TML Vibez, Bhadboi OML, Rybeena, Lasmid, Cazulee, Kashcoming, and DWillsHarmony, alongside legendary Nigerian performers Saheed Osupa and KS1 Malaika. Each artist’s catalogue was reimagined with full orchestral arrangements, demonstrating the genre’s versatility and global appeal.
Musical direction was led by Bazzman Sam, with orchestral conductors Perfect 4th Ensemble and Clintonic, while the production’s creative and technical execution was overseen by Director K, Temitayo “Tee Y Mix” Ibitoye, and Dunni Akinwunmi, ensuring flawless integration between orchestra and performers.
A Global Benchmark for Afrobeats
This achievement follows a recent trend of orchestral collaborations with contemporary music. In November 2025, American rapper Jeezy set a Guinness World Record for the Largest Orchestra in a Hip-Hop Concert, performing with 101 members of the Color of Noize Orchestra during his TM:101 Live residency in Las Vegas, an event covered by Billboard and Rolling Stone. Dapper Live’s Trench Symphony now brings this artistic ambition to Afrobeats, showcasing the genre’s growing influence from its cultural hub in Lagos to the world stage.
“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,” said Damilola Akinwunmi. “We didn’t just want to set a record; we wanted to create something iconic. From Lagos to the world, this is what happens when you refuse to put a ceiling on African artistry.”
Trench Symphony Tour: Taking the Record on the Road
Following the historic Guinness World Record achievement, Dapper Live has announced that Trench Symphony will embark on a major 2026 tour, covering 10 Nigerian states before heading to international cities including London, Birmingham, Dublin, Paris, and Canada. Dates, venues, and ticketing details will be released in due course, offering audiences worldwide the chance to experience the record-breaking orchestral Afrobeats phenomenon.
