Guinness World Records Confirms Hilda Baci For Largest Serving Of Nigerian Jollof Rice

Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci, has once again written her name in the Guinness World Records, with a culinary feat that speaks directly to West Africa’s long-standing Jollof rice rivalry.

Guinness World Records confirmed on Monday that Hilda, working in partnership with Gino Nigeria, cooked a staggering 8,780 kilograms (19,356 pounds) of Nigerian-style jollof rice during an open event last Friday at Eko Hotels and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Akwa Ibom-born chef, whose full name is Hilda Bassey, spent eight hours preparing what is now recognized as the largest serving of jollof rice ever made.

The event attracted thousands of people and featured live performances, turning the record attempt into a festive celebration.

Jollof rice, a beloved dish across West Africa, has long been at the center of a friendly but heated rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana over who makes it best.

To meet Guinness’ strict requirements, Hilda carefully measured her ingredients, including 4,000 kg of basmati rice (which had to account for at least 80% of the dish), 164 kg of fresh goat meat, 220 kg of Gino Asun & Peppered Chicken Cubes, and 600 kg of her signature pepper mix.

According to Hilda, it took nine hours of nonstop effort, powered by 1,200 kg of gas and teamwork, to produce 16,600 plates of jollof rice, all of which were served to attendees.

Record rules required that none of the food go to waste, so the rice was distributed freely to the crowd.

Videos shared by Hilda on Instagram showed supporters finally enjoying the dish after hours of waiting as the irresistible aroma filled the air.

Reflecting on her attempt, Hilda said: “I didn’t realize it would be this hard — it has been a real challenge. It took a lot of hard work, but achieving the record is truly satisfying. This record also belongs to the people of Nigeria, because they all contributed to its success.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Hilda Baci first rose to global fame in May 2023 when she set the Guinness World Record for the longest individual cooking marathon, clocking 93 hours and 11 minutes in Lekki, Lagos.

That attempt sparked a wave of record-chasing across Africa, with many inspired to attempt their own cooking marathons.

Her marathon record, however, has since been surpassed twice — first by Ireland’s Alan Fisher, who cooked for nearly 120 hours in October 2023, and then by Australia’s Evette Quoibia, who extended it further in February 2024 with an astonishing 140 hours, 11 minutes, and 11 seconds.

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