| By Faith Mwende |
Nigerian chef and former Guinness World Record holder Hilda Baci has attempted to cook the world’s largest pot of jollof rice, drawing thousands of onlookers in Lagos.
The 28-year-old food influencer, who previously captured global attention with her 93-hour, 11-minute cooking marathon in 2023, spent more than a year planning the massive undertaking.
Her recipe included 4,000kg (8,800lb) of rice, 500 cartons of tomato paste, and 600kg of onions, all cooked in a custom-made steel pot with a 23,000-litre capacity. The pot itself took a team of 300 people two months to manufacture.
Working with assistants equipped with oversized wooden spatulas, Baci oversaw the preparation until the jollof was ready to serve. Once completed, portions were distributed to the crowd.
Speaking to BBC Pidgin, 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 Guinness World Records organisation will now review evidence of the attempt before confirming whether the record has been achieved.
Jollof rice, a staple in Nigerian cuisine, is made by simmering rice in tomato sauce and is often paired with meat or seafood. Baci first gained national recognition in 2021 when she won a competition for her jollof recipe and has since become one of the country’s most celebrated culinary figures.
