Nigerian celebrity chef and Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, last Friday, at a lively venue in Victoria Island, Lagos, was at the center of a spectacular celebration of food, culture, and national pride, drawing fans, dignitaries, and fellow chefs who gathered to honor her achievements and culinary artistry.
Partnering with Gino Nigeria, Hilda prepared a staggering 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz) of jollof rice, turning the occasion into a community feast attended by thousands of fans, food lovers, and performers.
Known for her record-breaking 93-hour cooking marathon in May 2023, Hilda, real name Hilda Bassey, said this latest feat was driven by her passion for representing Nigeria in the long-standing “Jollof Wars,” a playful yet heated rivalry between West African nations, particularly Nigeria and Ghana, over who makes the best version of the iconic dish.
“This was nine hours of fire, passion, and teamwork,” Hilda revealed, describing the challenge as one of the toughest yet most rewarding experiences of her career. “It’s a lot of hard work, but really satisfying to achieve the record. This achievement also belongs to the people of Nigeria, as they all contributed to the success.”
To secure the Guinness World Record, Hilda and her team were required to follow strict guidelines on ingredients, preparation, and distribution.
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She shared that her gigantic pot included 4,000 kg of washed basmati rice, which had to constitute at least 80% of the total weight, along with 164 kg of fresh goat meat, 220 kg of Gino Asun & peppered chicken cubes, and 600 kg of her signature jollof pepper mix.
In total, the team used 1,200 kg of gas and cooked continuously for nine hours to produce 16,600 plates of steaming, flavourful jollof rice, all of which had to be distributed without waste, per Guinness World Record requirements.
Videos posted to Hilda’s Instagram account captured the electrifying atmosphere as eager attendees broke into chants of “Hilda, we want jollof!” while patiently waiting to taste the record-breaking dish. When the rice was finally served, the crowd erupted in cheers, and social media lit up with praise for its rich taste and flawless preparation.
The event was more than just a record attempt; it was a cultural spectacle. Performers entertained the crowd throughout the day, while Hilda’s team worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure every plate was served “with joy, love, and community.”
This latest feat has reignited friendly rivalry across West Africa, with many now wondering whether Ghana will respond with its own record attempt.
According to Guinness World Records, there is currently a category for the largest serving of Ghanaian-style jollof rice, but as of now, it has no holder.
Hilda’s ability to inspire large-scale participation and global attention is not new. Her 2023 cooking marathon in Lekki made international headlines and briefly crashed the Guinness World Records website due to the sheer volume of visitors eager to confirm her achievement.
Since then, she has inspired a wave of record-breaking enthusiasm across Africa, with numerous people submitting applications for their own cooking and endurance attempts.
Though her individual record for longest cooking marathon has since been broken twice, first by Ireland’s Alan Fisher (119 hr 57 min 16 sec) in October 2023, and later by Australia’s Evette Quoibia (140 hr 11 min 11 sec) in February 2024, Hilda remains one of the most celebrated chefs in Africa, using her platform to champion Nigerian cuisine on the global stage.
With this latest accomplishment, Hilda Baci has not only added another record to her name but also strengthened Nigeria’s culinary pride, fueling anticipation for what she might cook up next and whether Ghana will rise to the challenge.
