Hilda Baci Attempts Guinness Record Again: Star Chef Cooks World’s Largest Pot of Jollof Rice
RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
13 September 2025
Lagos stood still at the weekend as Nigeria’s culinary sensation, Hilda Baci, took another audacious shot at the Guinness World Records (GWR) — this time by cooking the world’s largest pot of jollof rice. The atmosphere at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, was nothing short of electric, as thousands thronged the venue for what was tagged the World Jollof Festival.
The 28-year-old celebrity chef, famed for her 2023 Cook-a-thon marathon, once again set social media and the streets abuzz as she rolled out her second record-breaking attempt — a feat involving an enormous 22,619-litre steel pot, designed and fabricated over two painstaking months. The challenge? Cooking 200 bags of rice, weighing over 4,000 kilograms, to feed at least 20,000 people.
Baci, dressed in her trademark apron and vibrant smile, personally confirmed the pot’s readiness with a playful announcement to her cheering supporters: “Yes, I can officially confirm this pot is squeaky clean! I washed it myself.”
The cooking began at exactly 2:08 p.m. on Friday and stretched into the early hours of Saturday. Assisted by a team wielding giant wooden paddles, Hilda meticulously layered onions, peppers, spices, and meat into the massive bubbling mix, pausing occasionally to give tasters to her crowd. By 1:20 a.m. on Saturday, the jollof was ready, and by 2:00 a.m., steaming plates were being distributed to thousands of eager guests.
But behind the spectacle lay months of rigorous planning. Baci disclosed that the project took nine months of preparation, including logistics, pot design, safety protocols, and ingredient coordination. “It was exhausting, but every minute was worth it,” she told reporters, fighting back tears as she scrolled through messages of support online. “This wasn’t just about breaking a record. It was about celebrating Nigerian food culture and bringing people together.”
The nine-hour cooking marathon was peppered with entertainment. DJs kept the crowd grooving, while musicians like Slim Case and Spyro lit up the stage. At one point, Nollywood star Funke Akindele made a surprise entrance, dancing and rallying the crowd, before giving a stirring pep talk: “Hilda is proof that beauty and brains go hand in hand. But beyond looks, young women must embrace hard work and purpose. That is where greatness lies.”
Other dignitaries, including Ogun State’s First Lady, Bamidele Abiodun, Lagos Deputy Speaker Lasbat Meranda, socialite Enioluwa, and fashion icon Veekee James, lent their voices and presence to the historic moment.
Although Baci had initially planned to cook 250 bags of rice, she scaled it down to 200 after calculating the maximum safe weight of the pot and crane scale — a smart adjustment that still yielded enough food for her 20,000 supporters.
Guinness World Records, which had earlier tweeted good luck messages, has yet to certify the attempt. But that did little to dampen the euphoria on the ground, as fans hailed Hilda for putting Nigerian cuisine once more on the global map.
From the Cook-a-thon Queen of 2023 to the Jollof General of 2025, Hilda Baci has cemented her place as one of Africa’s most daring culinary innovators. Her message was clear: Nigeria may argue about who makes the best jollof, but when it comes to size, the world must bow.
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