In a triumphant celebration of Nigerian culinary prowess, Guinness World Records has officially confirmed that celebrity chef Hilda Baci has set a new world record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice. The 28-year-old culinary sensation, already renowned for her record-breaking 93-hour cooking marathon in 2023, successfully prepared an enormous pot of the iconic West African dish, feeding thousands and captivating a global audience.
The verification comes just days after Baci’s ambitious attempt on September 12, 2025, at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, where over 20,000 attendees gathered to witness the historic event. Using a custom-built six-meter-wide steel cauldron capable of holding 23,000 liters, Baci and her team cooked 4,000 kilograms (over 8,800 pounds) of basmati rice, combined with 500 cartons of tomato paste, 600 kilograms of onions, 750 kilograms of cooking oil, and 168 kilograms of goat meat. The nine-hour cooking process transformed the venue into a vibrant festival of food, music, and national pride, with celebrities like Veekee James, Tomike Adeoye, and Enioluwa joining the cheers.
Although the initial plan called for 250 bags of rice (approximately 5,000 kilograms), Baci scaled back to 200 bags to accommodate the 20,000-kilogram weight limit of the on-site crane and measuring equipment. “This 4,000 kilograms of rice is 200 bags and it will still feed 20,000 people so we’re still up there,” Baci explained during the event, emphasizing the project’s goal of creating a unifying culinary experience rather than just chasing a title.
Challenges arose when the massive pot broke during hoisting for weighing, preventing an immediate measurement. However, Baci’s team meticulously documented the process with multiple cameras and compiled evidence for submission to Guinness World Records. The record body, which had publicly wished her “best of luck” on social media prior to the attempt, has now reviewed the footage and materials, confirming the record’s validity.
Jollof rice, a beloved staple simmered in tomato sauce and often debated in West African culinary rivalries, took center stage as a symbol of Nigerian ingenuity. Baci, who won a national jollof competition in 2021 before her global fame, described the effort as a year-long passion project. “We [Nigerians] are the giant of Africa, and jollof is a food that everybody knows Africans for,” she told reporters. The finished dish was divided into individual portions and distributed to the enthusiastic crowd, with some queuing until the early morning hours to savor the historic meal.
This marks Baci’s second Guinness World Record, solidifying her status as a trailblazer in the culinary world. Her 2023 “Cookathon” not only earned her international acclaim but also inspired a surge of similar endurance challenges across Africa. Reflecting on the latest achievement, Baci shared, “It took almost a year of planning, but seeing everyone come together for this made it all worthwhile.”