Fola David-Tolaram, a Nigerian doctor with a passion for the arts, has set a new Guinness World Record for creating the largest drawing in the world. The impressive piece, a map of Nigeria, covers a staggering 10,814.5 square feet, roughly the size of more than three tennis courts, and was completed at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.
Reflecting on his achievement, David-Tolaram described the artwork as a “love letter” to his country, highlighting Nigeria’s cultural diversity. “The drawing is a map of Nigeria showing its various cultures. Nigeria is a multi-cultural nation, and I wanted to create something that speaks to that and gives people a chance to celebrate their cultures,” said the 31-year-old.
To ensure the accuracy of his depiction, David-Tolaram traveled across Nigeria to immerse himself in the different cultures. “Before starting this record drawing, I traveled around my country to experience these cultures personally, and I brought those experiences to the stadium to create this drawing,” he said. “The food, clothing, festivals, and the elements that inspire music in each culture are all part of this creation.”
The record-breaking drawing was made on a 1,360 m² canvas using waterproof markers, and it took David-Tolaram two days to join the separate canvases together into one large surface before he began his work.
During the six days it took to complete the drawing, the atmosphere was electrifying, with crowds cheering him on. “Holding a Guinness World Records title is absolutely unbelievable. I grew up reading about world records and never imagined I would become a record title holder,” David-Tolaram reflected.