Chef Hilda Baci has officially broken, scratch that, set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice. Note that she didn’t just break the record, she set a new one, as “largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof” was not a thing on GWR before this.
The groundbreaking event took place in Victoria Island, Lagos, at Eko Hotels and Suites. Together with Gino Nigeria, Hilda prepared 8,780 kilograms (19,356 lb 9 oz) of Nigerian-style jollof rice.
It was an open cooking session lasting about nine hours, with a large pot custom-made for the attempt.
How Hilda Baci Did It
Here are some impressive details behind the cooking, planning, and execution. For the rice alone, Hilda used 4,000 kg of washed basmati rice. That’s about 80% of the weight of the whole dish, as required by Guinness World Records.
Proteins included 164 kg of fresh goat meat and 220 kg of Gino Asun & Peppered Chicken Cubes.
To get that signature jollof heat and flavor, Hilda Baci used 600 kg of her special jollof pepper mix.
The cooking was powered using 1,200 kg of gas, and the final output (once portioned out) served 16,600 plates of delicious jollof rice.
What’s Special About Hilda Baci’s Feat?
There were some comments from certain individuals that this was just “cooking rice,” so we deemed it fit to include this part.
First, pulling off something this massive is no small feat. From sourcing thousands of kilograms of ingredients, designing a massive pot, managing time and heat, to ensuring none of the jollof went to waste; it shows serious planning and execution. A 28-year old Nigerian female pulled all that off, now that’s a big deal!
Additionally, jollof rice isn’t just food, it’s identity, nostalgia, and pride. The jollof rivalry between Ghana, Nigeria, and others is real, and this kind of achievement strengthens Nigeria’s claim in that debate.
The event itself was more than cooking. It was a gathering involving music, people, and celebration. As Hilda said, it’s a win not just for her, but for the whole of Nigeria.
Who Is Hilda Baci?
We’d be shocked if you haven’t heard of her already, but here’s a quick refresher:
Real name Hilda Effiong Bassey; born in Akwa Ibom State. She rose to fame with the cook-a-thon (marathon cooking) that lasted 93 hours, 11 minutes in 2023, setting a Guinness record at the time.
She’s become a symbol, pushing boundaries on a culinary scale and celebrating Nigerian food with flair.
Challenges & Highlights
Of course, such a huge project had its hurdles. Weighing everything accurately (including that custom pot!) was tricky, since there are strict rules from Guinness about measurement.
Plus, we can imagine how difficult it was to ensure food safety, heat distribution, cooking time, and flavor balance on such a large scale.
Then, there’s keeping waste down. She ensured portions were served, people ate, and none went to waste.
As for the highlights, seeing the crowd, the energy, the excitement, the smell of jollof wafting across Victoria Island must’ve been amazing. So was seeing other celebrities, food lovers, and ordinary folks there to support, taste, and celebrate.
Final Thoughts
Hilda Baci’s newest Guinness World Record is more than just numbers or kilograms of rice. It’s a statement of ambition, of culture, of joy. It reminds us how food can unite, how one person’s vision (plus teamwork!) can make a big mark.
So, here’s to Hilda and every spoonful of jollof made with love, flavor, and community. If you haven’t already, maybe try to get some for yourself; nothing beats fresh Nigerian jollof, especially when you know it made history.
