Hilda Baci and the Largest Pot of Jollof Rice: A Cultural Milestone for Nigeria

-

By Nwafor Oji Awala

When celebrity chef Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, announced her attempt to cook the world’s largest pot of jollof rice, many thought it was another Guinness World Record bid in a season of record-breaking fever. But what unfolded in Lagos on the 12th of September 2025 was more than a cooking spectacle—it was a cultural statement, a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s culinary pride, and perhaps the beginning of a new chapter in our food heritage.




The Event That Shook Lagos

Hosted at the expansive Eko Hotel and Suites car park after an overwhelming 20,000 Nigerians registered to attend, Hilda’s attempt was nothing short of historic. A 22,619-litre custom pot, lifted with cranes and carefully balanced, became the vessel of cultural pride. Into it went 250 bags of rice, tomatoes, spices, and countless ingredients that form the backbone of the world-famous Nigerian jollof.

Backed by brands such as Gino Tomatoes, Viva Detergent, and the hospitality of Eko Hotels, the Guinness World Record attempt transformed into a full-blown festival—the Gino World Jollof Festival—complete with celebrity appearances from the likes of Funke Akindele, Tomike Adeoye, Veekee James, and Hilda’s ever-supportive friend Enioluwa Adeoluwa.



Beyond the Guinness World Record

This is not Hilda’s first dance with history. In May 2023, she cooked for 93 hours and 11 minutes, breaking the world record for the longest individual cooking marathon before it was later surpassed by Irish chef Alan Fisher. That feat sparked a wave of record attempts across Nigeria, setting the stage for her latest culinary dare.

But unlike the marathon, this record attempt isn’t only about endurance. It is about scale, spectacle, and symbolism. The jollof rice is not just food—it is identity. From Nigerian kitchens to African weddings, from street parties to international debates on “who makes the best jollof,” this dish has carried with it the banner of cultural pride. By cooking the largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice in history, Hilda has placed Nigerian cooking culture firmly on the global map.




The Impact on Nigerian Culinary Culture

The ripple effect of Hilda’s record attempt may be far-reaching:

  1. Revival of Food Heritage: Nigerian dishes, long overshadowed in global cuisine by Western and Asian food traditions, are gaining recognition. Hilda’s spotlight on jollof rice will likely encourage more chefs to take Nigerian recipes beyond borders.

  2. Food as Cultural Economy: With over 20,000 attendees and big-name sponsors, the attempt demonstrates how food can be leveraged into events that generate cultural and economic value. Imagine future food festivals built around ofada rice, nkwobi, or fisherman’s soup.

  3. Inspiration for Women and Youth: Hilda is redefining the image of the modern Nigerian woman—smart, ambitious, entrepreneurial, and culturally rooted. She is proof that you can be glamorous and still be a cultural torchbearer. As one admirer put it, she has shown that a woman can have “fine face, correct shape, and still have better sense.”

  4. Branding and Global Attention: More than cooking, Hilda has mastered timing, branding, and packaging. Her record attempt was streamed, hyped, and positioned as an event. This sets a precedent for how Nigerian culture can be presented to the world—not as fragmented efforts, but as well-curated spectacles.

A Night to Remember

As the massive pot settled into place after an almost calamitous crane mishap, cheers erupted. The rice was cooked, measured, and duly recorded for Guinness certification. Soon after, plates were served. Strangers became family over steaming bowls of Nigerian jollof, breaking bread—or rather, rice—in a communal feast of history.

That night, Lagos did not sleep early. For once, everyone agreed to say “No” to “no late-night eating.” Food became not just nourishment, but a unifying cultural force.

Conclusion

Hilda Baci has done more than attempt another world record. She has written a new chapter in Nigeria’s culinary story. Her record-breaking pot of jollof rice reminds us that food is heritage, food is pride, and food—when boldly showcased—can become the bridge between culture, commerce, and community.

The Guinness World Record team may confirm her place in the books, but Nigerians have already inscribed her name in the heart of their cultural history.


Nwafor Oji Awala 

(c) Prime Heritage Magazine 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

OGALE STAKEHOLDERS RECEIVE LEGAL BRIEFING ON LANDMARK COURT RULING IN SHELL POLLUTION CASE

-
Image
By Nwafor Oji Awala. Ogale, Eleme – July 11, 2025 The Royal Court at Obarijima Palace, Ogale, was the venue of a momentous stakeholders’ meeting on Friday, July 11, 2025, as members of the Ogale community gathered to receive a comprehensive legal update on their long-standing environmental lawsuit against oil giant Shell. The briefing was delivered by Mr. Anthony Hayward of Leigh Day, the UK-based law firm representing both Ogale and Bille communities in the case currently before the High Court in London. Presiding over the gathering was His Royal Highness, King Godwin Maduabushi Bebe Okpabi Paramount Ruler of Ogale and Oneh-eh Nchia X. The meeting drew a cross-section of the community: traditional chiefs, women leaders, youth representatives, legal observers, and members of the diaspora, all unified by a deep concern over the environmental devastation that has plagued Ogale for decades. A Legal Turning Point for Ogale and Bille Mr. Hayward’s update focused on the preliminary ...
Read more

Prof. Ndowa Lale Leads Peace Drive to Reunite MOSOP: Ogoni Chiefs Council Charts New Course for Unity

-
Image
By John Ollor Obe. In a pivotal move to resolve the longstanding leadership crisis within the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers has inaugurated a high-powered Peace Reconciliation Committee—placing Professor Sunday Ndowa E. Lale, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, at the helm of efforts to reunite the fractured movement. The committee was officially inaugurated on July 15, 2025, under the guidance of HRM (Sir) King Samuel L. A. Nnee JP, AmbP, FIIM, ACArb, D.min, the Gbenemene of Tai Kingdom and Convener of the Supreme Council. With the blessing of the court, the Council has sought to mediate and harmonize leadership disputes that have plagued MOSOP for years. Prof. Lale, a renowned academic and community leader from Eleme, was appointed Chairman of the reconciliation body—tasked with the monumental responsibility of restoring peace and cohesion to MOSOP, which for decades has been the global vo...
Read more

FROM SETBACK TO STARDOM: THE RELENTLESS JOURNEY OF SHARON EJII OBEY TO THE BAR

-
Image
By Nwafor Oji Awala | In an inspiring tale of grit, grace, and unshakable faith, Sharon Ejii Obey has emerged not only as a Barrister but as a shining symbol of relentless determination, proving that setbacks are setups for divine comebacks. The journey began in 2015 when Sharon, a young woman full of dreams and ambition, gained admission to study Law at North America University. Her passion for the legal profession burned bright — until an unexpected storm struck. By her fourth year, Sharon discovered that her university’s Law degree was not recognized by the Nigerian Law School. Devastated but not defeated, she left with only her transcript, facing an uncertain future. "I told myself I will never be a school dropout," Sharon recalls. With this personal vow, she returned to Nigeria and knocked on the doors of several universities, seeking admission to continue from where she had stopped. But almost all required her to start afresh — from 100 level. That painful reality, ...
Read more