Nigerian celebrity chef and culinary powerhouse Hilda Baci has once again stirred up global attention – this time with an audacious attempt to cook the world’s largest pot of jollof rice.
The record-breaking bid took place at Eko Hotels in Lagos, where thousands of fans, food lovers, and cultural enthusiasts gathered to witness the feat.
Baci, 28, previously made headlines in 2023 when she shattered the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon, clocking in at an astonishing 93 hours and 11 minutes.
Her latest endeavor, however, was even more ambitious: preparing 4,000 kilograms of jollof rice in a custom-built steel pot capable of holding 23,000 litres.
The recipe was monumental – 500 cartons of tomato paste, 600 kilograms of onions, and a culinary team of 300 people who spent two months fabricating the massive vessel. Armed with giant wooden spatulas, Baci and her assistants stirred the dish for hours before distributing it to the crowd.
Speaking to newsmen, Baci said the challenge took nearly a year to plan.
“We are the giant of Africa, and jollof is a food that everybody knows Africans for,” she said.
“It would make sense if we had the biggest pot of jollof rice – it would be nice for the country.”
The event was part of the World Jollof Festival and featured live music, celebrity appearances, and food vendors offering local delicacies.
Though Baci initially planned to cook 250 bags of rice, she scaled it down to 200 bags due to weighing limitations on the pot and crane system.
Despite a brief scare when the pot collapsed during weighing, the cooking was completed successfully, and the dish was served to over 30,000 attendees.
Guinness World Records is now reviewing the evidence to determine whether Baci’s feat will be officially recognized.
Jollof rice, a beloved staple across West Africa, is made by simmering rice in a rich tomato-based sauce, often accompanied by meat or seafood.
Baci’s version, which won her a national cooking competition in 2021, has become a symbol of Nigerian culinary pride.