Nigerian celebrity chef and food influencer Hilda Baci has once again captured the nation’s attention with her latest Guinness World Record attempt — cooking the world’s largest pot of jollof rice.
The event, which drew thousands of excited spectators in Lagos, ended in unexpected drama when the custom-made pot collapsed just as it was being hoisted for weighing.
Inside Hilda Baci’s Giant Jollof Rice Recipe
Hilda Baci, who first made headlines in 2023 after breaking the longest cooking marathon record (93 hours, 11 minutes), spent over a year planning this historic challenge.
Her record-breaking jollof rice attempt included:
4,000kg of rice (8,800 lbs)
500 cartons of tomato paste
600kg of onions
168kg of goat meat
The ingredients were cooked in a 23,000-litre steel pot, specially designed for the occasion. The cooking lasted nine hours, assisted by a team of 10 chefs in red uniforms, each wielding giant wooden spoons.
The Collapse of the World’s Largest Jollof Pot
As the massive pot was being lifted by a crane for weighing — a key requirement for Guinness World Record recognition — one side buckled and the supporting legs gave way.
Fortunately, the food did not spill, but the weighing process could not be completed despite two attempts.
A member of Baci’s team told the BBC they are compiling video evidence from multiple cameras to submit to Guinness World Records (GWR) for official verification.
Feeding Thousands with Jollof Rice
Despite the setback, the event turned into a celebration of Nigerian food culture. Portions of the enormous jollof dish were distributed to the massive crowd of supporters who had gathered to witness history.
Hilda Baci: “Jollof Rice Represents Africa”
Speaking to BBC Pidgin after the event, Hilda Baci shared the inspiration behind her bold attempt:
“We [Nigerians] are the giant of Africa, and jollof is a food that everybody knows Africans for. It would make sense if we had the biggest pot of jollof rice. It would be nice for the country.”
The ambitious project required a 300-person team working for two months to construct the pot. Unfortunately, one of its legs gave way at the crucial moment.
The Legacy of Jollof Rice in West Africa
Jollof rice remains one of the most beloved dishes in West Africa, often prepared with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and paired with meat or seafood.
Hilda Baci is no stranger to the spotlight. She won a national competition for her jollof recipe in 2021, and in 2023 she became a household name with her marathon cooking record.
Although she was later surpassed by Irish chef Alan Fisher, and the current cooking marathon record holder is Australian chef Evette Quoibia with 140 hours, 11 minutes, Baci continues to inspire Nigerians and food lovers around the world.
Conclusion
Even though the world’s biggest jollof rice pot could not be officially weighed, Hilda Baci’s Guinness World Record attempt was more than just a challenge — it was a celebration of Nigerian resilience, unity, and pride in its rich culinary culture.
✨ Whether Guinness World Records recognises it or not, Hilda Baci has proven once again that Nigerian jollof rice is more than just food — it’s a symbol of African identity.