Lagos, Nigeria — Nigerian celebrity chef Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, on Friday began her bold attempt to cook the world’s largest pot of jollof rice, turning what might have been a singular culinary feat into a national cultural festival.
The event, staged at the Eko Hotel Car Park B in Lagos, drew more than 20,000 registered attendees, underscoring the excitement surrounding what has been dubbed the Gino World Jollof Festival with Hilda Baci.
A Pot Built for History
At the centre of the spectacle is a specially engineered cooking pot, standing six metres tall and six metres wide, with a capacity of 22,619 litres. Though capable of holding more, organizers said the goal is to fill the pot to about 75 to 80 percent capacity.
To achieve this, Baci and her team plan to use approximately 250 bags of basmati rice—weighing nearly 5,300 kilograms—alongside a staggering 1,583 kilograms of tomato paste. Other ingredients include onions, peppers, curry, ginger, garlic, and spices, ensuring that the record-setting dish retains the authentic taste of Nigerian jollof rice.
More Than a Record Attempt
For Baci, the challenge is about more than numbers. Speaking ahead of the event, she described the pot as “a taste that tells our story,” highlighting how deeply jollof rice is tied to Nigerian identity and West Africa’s culinary pride.
The event, organized in partnership with Gino Foods, blends food with music, art, and community, creating a festival atmosphere that celebrates culture as much as cuisine.
From Park to Eko Hotel
The festival was originally slated for Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, but overwhelming interest forced organizers to move to the larger grounds of Eko Hotel. The change was announced days before the event to ensure crowd control, safety, and better logistics for the thousands expected.
Challenges Ahead
Cooking on such a scale presents major technical hurdles. Chefs and volunteers face the challenge of evenly cooking tonnes of rice without scorching, stirring consistently in a vessel large enough to feed a small city. Food safety protocols must also be followed to ensure the dish can be safely served to the crowd once completed.
Guinness World Records officials have acknowledged the attempt, confirming that proper documentation and verification procedures are in place. A formal ruling on whether the effort will stand as an official world record will follow in the days ahead.
Emotional Kickoff
Before the cooking began, Baci was seen in prayer with her mother, asking for strength and endurance for what she called “this historic moment.” The atmosphere was electric as supporters cheered, danced, and waited in anticipation.
National Pride on Display
For many, the attempt goes beyond Baci herself. It is viewed as a moment of pride for Nigeria, where jollof rice is more than a dish—it is a cultural emblem, a centerpiece of celebrations, and part of West Africa’s enduring culinary rivalry.
As pots simmer and smoke rises over Eko Hotel, one thing is already clear: whether or not Guinness certifies the record, Hilda Baci has succeeded in drawing global attention to Nigerian food and the spirit of community that surrounds it.
