Guinness World Records has officially verified that Nigerian chef Hilda Baci has shattered the world record for the largest jollof rice dish, with her massive creation weighing an unprecedented 8,780 kilogrammes.
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The global record-keeping authority announced the confirmation on social media this week, validating what many observers called one of the most ambitious culinary undertakings ever attempted in Africa.
Baci’s record-breaking dish required extraordinary logistical coordination, featuring 4,000kg of rice, 500 cartons of tomato paste, 600kg of onions, and 168kg of goat meat—all prepared in a custom-manufactured steel vessel capable of holding 23,000 litres.
The specialised pot, which took a team of 300 people two months to construct, became the centrekpiece of the nine-hour cooking marathon that captivated thousands of spectators in Lagos last week.
The achievement almost ended in catastrophe when the giant pot’s structural integrity failed twice during the crucial weigh-in process. One of the vessel’s legs gave way as it was being hoisted onto a crane for official measurement, creating heart-stopping moments for Baci and her team.
“Thankfully, none of the rice was spilled,” witnesses reported, though the incident required Baci’s team to collect footage from multiple camera angles to provide additional evidence to Guinness World Records for verification purposes.
The record attempt represented the culmination of twelve months of meticulous planning by Baci, who previously held the world cooking marathon record with an exhausting 93 hours and 11 minutes in 2023—a title later surpassed by Irish chef Alan Fisher and currently held by Australia’s Evette Quoibia at 140 hours and 11 minutes.
“We Nigerians are the giant of Africa, and jollof is a food that everybody knows Africans for,” Baci explained to BBC Pidgin. “It would make sense if we had the biggest pot of jollof rice, it would be nice for the country.”
Ten assistant chefs in matching red uniforms wielded specially-made long wooden spoons to help stir the massive dish throughout the cooking process, while thousands of supporters gathered to witness the historic attempt.
Following the successful completion, the enormous quantity of jollof rice was divided into individual portions and distributed among the crowd and passersby, transforming the record attempt into a community feast.
Baci framed her achievement in terms of broader representation, stating: “This Guinness World Record was built on unity, love, and collective strength. We made history together, for Nigeria, for Africa, and for everyone who believes in the power of food to bring us closer—this win is yours too.”
The chef, who won a jollof rice competition in 2021 before rising to national prominence through her marathon cooking record, positioned the achievement as a celebration of West African culinary heritage. Jollof rice, a staple featuring rice simmered in tomato sauce often paired with meat or seafood, is beloved across several West African nations.
Baci’s latest triumph adds to her growing reputation as one of Africa’s most ambitious culinary ambassadors, using food records to showcase Nigerian culture and capabilities on the global stage.
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