A Nigerian doctor, Fola David-Tolaram, has transformed his passion for art into a groundbreaking achievement, setting a Guinness World Record for creating the world’s largest drawing by an individual.
His artwork, which spans an impressive 1,004.7 m² (10,814.5 ft²), was crafted on the pitch at Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos and celebrates Nigeria’s diverse culture.
David-Tolaram, 31, described his work as “a map of Nigeria showing the various cultures,” explaining, “The Nigerian country is a multi-cultural nation. I wanted to create something that speaks to that and give people an avenue to celebrate their cultures.”
Entitled The Unity of Diversity, the piece reflects his experience traveling across Nigeria to immerse himself in the distinct cultural elements that inspired the artwork.
Using a 1,360 m² canvas and waterproof markers, the Lagos-based doctor, who has practiced art professionally for a decade, took two days just to assemble the canvas large enough for his vision.
Beginning from the center, David-Tolaram originally planned to work outward in a circular motion but adjusted his technique as he progressed.
The challenging project, completed over six days, drew enthusiastic spectators who filled the 5,000-seat stadium to watch and cheer him on, creating an “electrifying” atmosphere.
Reflecting on the experience, he shared, “I remember standing right in the center of this canvas, about to start this drawing, and feeling a lot of apprehension and fear… But once I got going, I knew I could do it.”
David-Tolaram described the significance of achieving a Guinness World Records title as “absolutely unbelievable,” noting, “I grew up reading about world records and I never thought that I would be a record title holder. I feel very honored, I feel distinguished, and I feel Officially Amazing.”
