The atmosphere was electrifying at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, as celebrity chef Hilda Baci thrilled thousands of fans with another groundbreaking culinary feat. This time, she set a brand-new Guinness World Record for cooking the world’s largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice — a first-of-its-kind attempt that pulled a massive crowd of over 20,000 food lovers, celebrities, and influencers.
Before firing up the stove, Hilda rolled up her sleeves to personally wash the massive red pot. Updating her fans, she said, “Yes, I can officially confirm this pot is squeaky clean! I washed it myself.”
She also stressed that the process was carefully calculated to preserve the authenticity of the jollof by using accurate spices. Speaking to journalists, she explained, “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 that everything is right.”
Moments before the cooking began, Hilda had a short but emotional prayer session with the lead pastor of the Havesters Church, Bolaji Idowu.
As the jollof simmered, the crowd swelled, with guests beaming with excitement to get a taste of the steaming dish.
Notable personalities such as Veekee James, Tomike Adeoye, and Enioluwa joined the celebration, cheering her on. Even Guinness World Records showed support, writing on her Instagram post, “Best of luck, Hilda and team! ”
One of the highlights of the ceremony was when the multiple award-winning filmmaker, Funke Akindele, showed up to support Hilda and energise the crowd which she achieved with the few exciting dance steps she showcased to her fans.
Adding to the flavour of the event was a performance by Oludipe David, aka Spryo, who treated the audience to some of his hit songs.
This latest feat cements Hilda’s reputation as a record-breaking innovator. In 2023, she set a Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, lasting 93 hours and 11 minutes — an event she famously dubbed “Cookathon.” Since then, her daring spirit has inspired a wave of similar attempts.
With the world’s biggest jollof rice now added to her list of achievements, Hilda has once again proven that her creativity knows no bounds.