Nigerian chef and former Guinness World Record holder Hilda Baci has mounted a new record bid, preparing what she says is the world’s largest pot of jollof rice before a crowd of thousands in Lagos.
Baci, 28, and a 300-strong culinary team used a custom steel vessel capable of holding 23,000 litres, churning a recipe that called for about 4,000 kg of rice, 500 cartons of tomato paste and 600 kg of onions. The pot took two months to fabricate, organisers said.
The dish simmered for several hours and was stirred with oversize wooden paddles by rotating assistants. Portions were later handed out to onlookers.
Evidence from the cook will now be submitted to Guinness World Records for verification. Baci previously captured national attention in 2023 when she briefly held the title for the longest cooking marathon at 93 hours and 11 minutes.
She said the attempt was a year in the making and pitched it as a celebration of a West African staple. “We’re the giant of Africa, and jollof is a dish the world knows us for,” Baci said, adding that securing the “biggest pot” would be a point of pride for Nigeria.
Jollof rice—rice cooked in a tomato-based sauce, often served with meat or seafood—is a mainstay of Nigerian cuisine. Baci rose to prominence after winning a jollof competition in 2021.