Hilda Baci sets world record for largest pot of jollof rice

Nigerian chef Hilda Baci has secured another place in the Guinness World Records after cooking the largest pot of jollof rice and serving the dish in Lagos.

Baci first gained international attention in May 2023 with her 100-hour cook-a-thon in Lagos.

Baci, in partnership with Gino Nigeria, achieved the second feat on Sept. 13, where she cooked 4,000 kilogrammes, about 200 bags of Basmati rice in a 22,619-litre pot, measuring six metres wide and six metres tall in a procedure that lasted about nine hours.

Our correspondent reports that Guinness World Records confirmed the achievement on Monday in a post on X: “New record: Largest serving of Nigerian style Jollof rice – 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz) achieved by Hilda Baci and Gino in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.”

The 28-year-old chef had initially planned to cook 5,000 kilogrammes, 250 bags of rice but reduced it to 200 bags due to weighing challenges.

Guinness rules required strict, precise measurement of ingredients and output, with organisers ensuring no food was wasted.

Our correspondent also reports that the festival turned into a cultural celebration of Nigerian lifestyle, with food and drink vendors, entertainers and thousands of fans in attendance.

Nollywood stars and influencers including Funke Akindele, Bamike Olawunmi-Adenibuyan, Enioluwa Adeoluwa, and Tomike Adeoye joined the crowd to cheer Baci.

After the announcement, Baci said: “I didn’t realise it would be this hard and it has been a challenge. It’s a lot of hard work but really satisfying to achieve the record.

“This achievement also belongs to the people of Nigeria as they all contributed to the achievement.”