Hilda Baci Stirs History: A Bold Bid for the World’s Largest Pot of Jollof Rice

Hilda Baci Stirs History: A Bold Bid for the World’s Largest Pot of Jollof Rice

In a move that blends ambition, culture, and community, Chef Hilda Effiong Bassey—better known as Hilda Baci—is once again pushing culinary boundaries. On September 12, 2025, she began her attempt to set a new Guinness World Record by cooking the world’s largest pot of jollof rice at Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos. It is a feat that captures more than just appetite. it captures identity, national pride, and the power of food to bring people together.

Hilda’s quest is nothing short of monumental: 250 bags of rice in a single giant pot. The logistics alone are staggering. To accommodate the overwhelming number of supporters over 20,000 people have registered to attend the venue was moved from Muri Okunola Park to Eko Hotels & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos.

She didn’t leave anything to chance. Before the cooking began, Hilda and her mother offered prayers, asking for divine strength, protection, and endurance necessary in a task this large. And yes, she personally washed the spotless, six-metre-wide pot in readiness for what many hope will be a memorable chapter in Nigeria’s culinary history.

Guinness World Records has formally recognized her attempt, and the organization publicly offered its best wishes, writing “Best of luck Hilda and team!” in response to her social media announcement.

More Than a Meal

While the world record is the headline, this ambitious project carries deeper layers of meaning. Jollof rice is not just food. it is culture, competition, and identity. Across West Africa, the rumble of the “Jollof wars” pitting Ghanaian, Nigerian, Senegalese, Sierra Leonean versions has become both friendly rivalry and serious conversation about heritage. In that context, Hilda’s attempt isn’t simply about scale it’s about celebrating Nigerian jollof and placing it on a grand global stage.

Moreover, there’s the factor of communal experience. The fact that tens of thousands registered to attend indicates that this isn’t just a food event. it’s a cultural gathering. It is also a chance for everyday Nigerians, fans of Hilda, and global observers to witness and partake in something that blends communal pride with spectacle. Food has a way of binding people, even in diversity and Hilda’s project is a vivid example.

There’s also entrepreneurship and inspiration. Hilda Baci first garnered global admiration in 2023 when she broke the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon. This new attempt signals continuity. she’s not resting on her laurels, but building outward. Despite the pressure, the logistical hurdles, and the media attention, there is an authenticity in her efforts: from washing the pot herself, to relocating the venue so more people can witness the feat.

The Stakes & The Spectacle

If successful, Hilda Baci will add another Guinness record to her name, further elevating her standing in culinary circles and Nigerian public life. But beyond that, it would show what can happen when bold ideas meet determined people. Spectators don’t just expect a large pot of jollof they expect a reaffirmation that culture, hard work, and community still matter.

The images of a giant pot, the steam rising, the crowd around will linger in collective memory. And even for those who cannot be physically present, the story resonates: ambition rooted in culture, and food as the vehicle for celebration.

As Hilda Baci stirs, seasons, and stewards this mammoth pot of jollof, Lagos and Nigeria watch. This is more than an attempt at a world record it is a cultural moment. It affirms national pride, elevates culinary art, and celebrates togetherness through food. Whether or not the attempt succeeds, the effort itself is already stirring hearts, appetites, and imaginations.

Here’s to Hilda Baci may the rice cook evenly, the flavours meld beautifully, and may this pot not just be big but legendary.