The atmosphere was electric at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, as celebrity chef Hilda Baci set yet another Guinness World Record — this time for cooking the world’s largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice. The historic feat, the first of its kind, drew a massive crowd of over 20,000 food lovers, celebrities, and influencers.
Before the cooking began, Hilda personally washed the giant red pot, joking with fans, “Yes, I can officially confirm this pot is squeaky clean! I washed it myself.” She emphasized that every step of the process was meticulously planned to preserve the authenticity of the dish. “To keep the authenticity of the jollof rice, I applied some mathematics, and we will still watch it while it is cooking to make sure everything is right,” she told journalists.
Hilda also held a brief prayer session led by Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters Church before firing up the stove.
As the rice simmered, the crowd buzzed with excitement, eagerly waiting for a taste. Popular figures including Veekee James, Tomike Adeoye, and Enioluwa joined the celebration, while Guinness World Records itself wished her success on Instagram: “Best of luck, Hilda and team!”
The event featured lively performances, with filmmaker Funke Akindele energising the audience with her dance moves and singer Spyro thrilling fans with his hit songs.
This new record reinforces Hilda’s reputation as a culinary trailblazer. In 2023, she captured global attention after cooking for 93 hours and 11 minutes in her famous “Cookathon,” setting the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.
With the world’s largest jollof rice now added to her name, Hilda Baci has once again proven that her creativity and daring spirit know no bounds.
