The atmosphere at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, was charged with excitement as celebrity chef Hilda Baci staged another record-breaking attempt — cooking what she hoped would become the world’s largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice. The event, which drew over 20,000 fans, celebrities, and influencers, blended culinary spectacle, national pride, and dramatic twists.
Before the cook began, Hilda rolled up her sleeves to scrub the massive custom-made red pot herself. Smiling, she told fans, “Yes, I can officially confirm this pot is squeaky clean! I washed it myself.” The chef explained that every detail was carefully calculated to preserve the authenticity of the dish, relying on precise spice measurements and constant monitoring.
In a solemn moment, Hilda shared a short prayer with Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters Church before firing up the stove. Over the next nine hours, she and a team of 10 chefs worked tirelessly to stir the pot with long wooden spoons, mixing 4,000 kg of rice, 500 cartons of tomato paste, 600 kg of onions, and 168 kg of goat meat.
The giant steel vessel, built to hold 23,000 litres, had taken 300 workers two months to manufacture. Yet, just as the dish was ready to be weighed, the pot’s supporting legs gave way while being hoisted by a crane. Videos shared online captured the tense moment the pot buckled. Fortunately, the food remained intact, though two attempts to measure its weight failed.
Despite the setback, spirits stayed high. Guests including Funke Akindele, Veekee James, Tomike Adeoye, and Enioluwa rallied behind Hilda, with Guinness World Records itself commenting on her Instagram post: “Best of luck, Hilda and team!” The atmosphere was further lifted by filmmaker Funke Akindele, who thrilled the crowd with a few dance moves, and singer Spyro, who performed some of his hit songs.
Although the weighing failed, a member of Hilda’s team told the BBC that evidence from different camera angles and documentation would be submitted to Guinness World Records for verification. Afterward, the enormous pot of jollof was portioned out and distributed to the massive crowd.
Speaking to BBC Pidgin, Hilda explained the year-long planning behind the challenge. “We [Nigerians] are the giant of Africa, and jollof is a food that everybody knows Africans for. It would make sense if we had the biggest pot of jollof rice; it would be nice for the country.”
Hilda’s bold attempt follows her globally acclaimed “Cookathon” in 2023, when she cooked for 93 hours and 11 minutes to claim the record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. With this latest feat, even with its hiccups, she once again proved her daring spirit and enduring influence.
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