Nigerian celebrity chef Hilda Baci, who captivated Africa and the world in 2023 with her record-breaking cooking marathon, has once again etched her name into the Guinness World Records — this time by taking on one of West Africa’s most beloved (and hotly debated) dishes: jollof rice.
In an official announcement on Monday, the Guinness World Records confirmed that Hilda, in partnership with Gino Nigeria, set a new world record for the largest pot of jollof rice, preparing an astonishing 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz) of the iconic Nigerian-style dish last Friday.
The record-breaking feat took place during an eight-hour open cooking session at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, drawing hundreds of excited spectators and featuring live stage performances to celebrate the culinary milestone.
Born in Akwa Ibom and known by her full name Hilda Bassey, the chef said the goal of this attempt went beyond food — it was about cementing Nigeria’s culinary edge in the long-running jollof rivalry that has pitted Nigeria and Ghana in a friendly but passionate contest over whose version of the dish reigns supreme.
“A lot of love, fire, and teamwork went into this,” Hilda said. “It took nine hours and 1,200 kg of gas to produce 16,600 plates of rice — served with joy, love, and community.”
According to Guinness World Records guidelines, specific ingredients and proportions were mandatory. Hilda and her team used 4,000 kg of washed basmati rice (making up at least 80% of the total weight), 164 kg of fresh goat meat, 220 kg of Gino Asun and Peppered Chicken Cubes, and 600 kg of her signature jollof pepper mix — all carefully measured and documented.
Throughout the cooking session, staff could be seen stirring the steaming rice in a massive pot while others added water and spices under the guidance of Baci. Strict rules around food safety and distribution also applied, with organizers ensuring that none of the food went to waste. Much of the jollof was served directly to supporters at the event, who had waited patiently — and hungrily — for a taste of the world’s largest jollof dish.
On Instagram, Hilda shared a video of the moment the rice was finally served, writing:
“I didn’t realise it would be this hard — it has been a real challenge. It took a lot of hard work, but achieving the record is truly satisfying.
This record also belongs to the people of Nigeria, because they all contributed to its success.”
This marks Hilda Baci’s second Guinness World Record, following her global spotlight in May 2023, when she cooked for 93 hours and 11 minutes to set the record for the longest individual cooking marathon — a feat that drew massive attention and support across Nigeria and beyond.
That record has since been surpassed — first by Alan Fisher of Ireland in October 2023, who cooked for 119 hours, 57 minutes, 16 seconds, and later by Australia’s Evette Quoibia, who extended the record to 140 hours, 11 minutes, 11 seconds in February 2024.
Nevertheless, Hilda Baci continues to blaze a trail in the culinary world, using food not only as a profession but as a unifying force for culture, pride, and national identity.
