Nigerian celebrity chef Hilda Baci has officially achieved another remarkable feat, confirmed by Guinness World Records (GWR): the 'Largest Serving of Nigerian-Style Jollof Rice'. In collaboration with Gino Nigeria, Baci cooked an astonishing 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz) of the iconic dish, a record that was meticulously planned over nine months and involved two months of dedicated pot fabrication.

The record-breaking culinary session took place during a nine-hour open-air cooking event at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. This ambitious endeavour saw Hilda prepare the equivalent of 200 units of 20-kg bags of rice. GWR noted that the event drew thousands of attendees, who were entertained by live performers while eagerly awaiting a taste of the colossal meal. Strict GWR rules were followed throughout the attempt, requiring specific ingredients to be precisely measured and thoroughly documented, a task Hilda diligently performed for every item added to the pot.

Key ingredients used in the gigantic serving included 4,000 kg of washed basmati rice, which constituted at least 80 percent of the total weight, 164 kg of fresh goat meat, 220 kg of Gino Asun and peppered chicken cubes, and 600 kg of her signature jollof pepper mix. Hilda Baci stated that the production of 16,600 plates of rice required 'nine hours of fire, passion and teamwork' and consumed 1,200 kg of gas, all 'served with joy, love and community'. Furthermore, strict rules regarding food distribution were adhered to, ensuring no portion of the record-breaking meal went to waste. Videos shared by Baci on social media showcased the jollof rice being distributed to the eager crowd who had gathered to support the event.

Reflecting on the monumental effort, Baci expressed, "I didn't realise 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." She dedicated the achievement, adding, "This record also belongs to the people of Nigeria, because they all contributed to its success." This record also serves to solidify Nigeria's standing in the long-running Jollof rivalry, a debate over which West African nation makes the best jollof rice, a staple dish across the region. GWR acknowledges a record category for Ghanaian-style jollof rice, although it currently has no holder.

This is not Baci's first entry into the GWR record books. In May 2023, she garnered significant national and international attention for setting the record for the longest individual cooking marathon. During that attempt in Lekki, Lagos, she cooked for 93 hours and 11 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 87 hours and 45 minutes held by Indian chef Lata Tondon. However, her reign in this fiercely contested category was short-lived. She was later dethroned by Irish chef Alan Fisher, who cooked continuously for 119 hours and 57 minutes, and subsequently, Australia's Evette Quoibia pushed the mark even further with 140 hours 11 minutes and 11 seconds. Despite being surpassed in the cooking marathon, Baci's latest jollof rice record further cements her legacy as a culinary icon.