On Friday, the 12th of September 2025, Nigeria’s favourite celebrity chef, Hilda Baci, took on her boldest challenge yet, to cook the world’s largest pot of Jollof rice.
As early as 9 AM, the air around Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, smelled like history in the making — and by evening, it smelled like a lot of jollof rice. Thousands of fans, celebrities, and food lovers thronged the venue, buzzing with excitement to witness the former Guinness World Record holder attempt the feat.
With a six-metre-wide, six-metre-tall custom-built pot and about 200 bags of rice, the 28-year-old Baci whipped up a 22,619-litre serving of Nigeria’s most beloved dish in just nine hours.
The Guinness World Records team is yet to give the official nod, but the feat has already been stamped into Nigeria’s pop culture memory.
A Jollof festival
What was billed as a record attempt doubled as a carnival. Billed as the World Jollof Festival, the event was more than just food; it was a full-blown celebration.
Vendors dished out Nigerian street classics, influencers and content creators darted around with cameras, and security battled long queues of fans desperate to get in. It wasn’t just fans — Nollywood stars and influencers turned up too. Funke Akindele, Falz, Bam Bam, Tomike Adeoye, and Enioluwa Adeoluwa all showed love, blending seamlessly into the sea of cheering supporters.
Of course, no record attempt comes without drama. At one point, after the meal was ready, the massive pot gave way during weighing, sending ripples of panic through the crowd and viral videos across social media. But true to her reputation, Hilda and her team regrouped and kept the show going.
The Nigerian government, meanwhile, wasted no time in co-signing the moment. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, praised Baci’s “extraordinary effort” and described it as a showcase of Nigerian excellence. He also urged young Nigerians to draw inspiration from her discipline and creativity.
This isn’t Hilda’s first dance with Guinness. In 2023, she broke the record for the longest cooking marathon, running her kitchen for a staggering 93 hours straight. That feat catapulted her into international fame. Now, with her giant pot of jollof, she has once again managed to turn a personal challenge into a shared national triumph.
Whether Guinness certifies it or not, one thing is clear: Hilda Baci has cemented herself as a cultural ambassador of Nigeria’s food, spirit, and grit. And on the jollof rivalry front, well, Ghana might just need a bigger pot.
The post Hilda Baci cooks up another record with a Jollof festival for the ages appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.
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