Celebrity chef Hilda Baci has done it again, this time breaking a Guinness World Record for the largest jollof rice dish in the world. In Lagos, the Nigerian chef stunned the world by cooking a jaw-dropping 8,780 kilograms of jollof rice, transforming an ordinary meal into a cultural landmark.
The moment was more than just about food. It was a celebration of identity, unity, and African pride. Thousands of Lagosians gathered to witness the fiery spectacle, while millions followed online.
It took nine hours of fire, passion, and teamwork. Those hours did not just produce rice — they produced a moment of history.
The Record-Breaking Moment
The Guinness adjudicators confirmed it on the spot: Hilda Baci has successfully cooked the largest serving of jollof rice ever recorded. The process was anything but ordinary.
A pot, designed to hold more than 22,000 liters, was retrofitted with steel supports, but when the moment came to lift it for weighing, the pot gave way. For a tense moment, history seemed to wobble. Yet, nothing was wasted. Every grain was carefully preserved, weighed, and verified.
The audience started cheering when the final figure, which is 8,780 kilograms, was announced. The drums were rolled, the voices were screaming, and the air was filled with patriotic pride. It was indeed a cultural success.
Hilda Baci: Chef to Cultural Star
Hilda Baci is more than a cook to most Nigerians; she is a symbol of creativity and hard work. Her first appearance in the international spotlight was in 2023 when she set the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon with 93 hours and 11 minutes.
She is now a cultural icon, representing ambition, resilience, and African culinary excellence
This has broken the record, and her name and popularity have become even more powerful.
Hilda Baci was born in Akwa Ibom State, she studied sociology but passion led her into the food industry. In no time, talent, charisma, and her challenging nature made her a household name throughout Nigeria.
Her story proves that she is more than a chef. She is now a cultural icon, representing ambition, resilience, and African culinary excellence.
Why Jollof Rice?
Choosing jollof rice for such a record was no accident. Jollof rice is more than just a dish in West Africa; it is the heartbeat of celebration. Weddings, birthdays, festivals, and family gatherings across the region are incomplete without it.
The dish also has a cultural rivalry. Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal all claim to make the best, and this fuels arguments that can light up any conversation. By choosing jollof rice, Hilda Baci tapped directly into this wellspring of cultural pride and friendly rivalry.
In that one pot, Nigeria declared to the world: our jollof is not just delicious, it is history.
The Logistics of Cooking History
Behind the record was a staggering list of logistics. More than 200 bags of rice were washed, prepared, and cooked.
Some people chopped vegetables, and others were the stirrers, and they were those who attended to the heat. It required the involvement of all hands to turn the process into perfection.
Timing was crucial. The spices, onions, tomatoes, and peppers were mixed into the red sauce, which was their staple. Liters of oil and carefully measured seasoning added balance to the flavors. Meat was cooked in bulk to complement the rice.
Audience Attendance and Audience Response
Lagos was full of light. There were crowds of people in the venue on Victoria Island, screaming her name, waving flags, and taking pictures on their phones. The feeling of solidarity and happiness went like wildfire.
Hilda was not only hailed as a chef but also as a heroine
Hashtags such as #HildaBaciJollofRecord and #LargestJollofRice trended for hours on social media. The victory was celebrated by Nigerians both in the country and abroad.
Hilda was not only hailed as a chef but also as a heroine who, through food, had helped the nation have something to celebrate.
The Global Impact
It was not merely a personal conquest of this world record. It was a highlight of African cuisine; it was the brightest ever. Jollof rice is a favorite in West Africa, which has enjoyed its fame for decades.
It is now being featured in the news of every continent, proving that African cuisine can be featured at the largest culinary table of the globe.
Food is more than sustenance — it is diplomacy. By setting this record, Hilda Baci elevated Nigerian cuisine onto a global stage. It may boost tourism, inspire collaborations, and fuel new interest in African food.
This achievement boldly declares that African flavors are world-class.
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What’s Next for Hilda Baci
The world is watching what Hilda Baci will do next. Having two Guinness records in her books, she is on the threshold of much greater opportunities. Already in the offering are endorsements, cook shows, cook books and worldwide speaking invitations.
Her experience also qualifies her as a coach and a spokesman. A lot of people hope that she will market culinary tourism in Nigeria, advocate African cuisine in foreign festivals, and enable young chefs to dream big.
Her story will continue even in Akwa Ibom to the world stage.
A Cauldron of Vanity That Fed the Past
The success of Hilda Baci is not merely the figure in a Guinness Book of Records. It is a cultural quote, a symbol of strength, and a reminder of how food could bring people together.
She turned 8,780 kilograms of rice into an international record. And by so doing, she nourished history, pride and legacy.
It was not merely rice but it was a pride of pot to Nigeria and Africa.
Will her victory lead to other record African food celebrations all over the world? The world is on hold, but at least it is the legacy of Hilda Baci’s jollof rice that will be remembered by generations.
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