Esther Imonmion
Nigerian chef and former Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, has embarked on an ambitious bid to cook the world’s largest pot of jollof rice, attracting thousands of spectators in Lagos.
The 28-year-old food influencer, who previously set the record for the longest cooking marathon in 2023 – an exhausting 93 hours and 11 minutes – prepared a colossal jollof rice dish using 4,000 kilograms of rice, 500 cartons of tomato paste, and 600 kilograms of onions. All the ingredients were poured into a custom-made pot with a capacity of nearly 23,000 litres.
Planning the challenge took a full year. Baci said, “We 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 giant steel vessel was manufactured by a culinary team of 300 over two months. Working alongside a team of assistants wielding massive wooden spatulas, Baci cooked the dish over several hours before distributing it to attendees.
Jollof rice, a staple of Nigerian cuisine, features rice simmered in a tomato-based sauce and is often served with meat or seafood. Baci, who gained national attention after winning a jollof rice competition in 2021, is now seeking to further showcase Nigerian culinary heritage on the global stage.
The Guinness World Records organization is expected to validate the attempt with photo and video evidence. The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed support, with Mallam Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, commending Baci’s efforts. His message was conveyed by Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), highlighting the event as a testament to Nigeria’s global excellence.