Nigerian celebrity chef Hilda Baci has officially set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice, weighing an astonishing 8,780 kilogrammes (19,356 lb 9 oz).
The feat, achieved on Friday in Victoria Island, Lagos, in collaboration with food brand Gino, was confirmed by Guinness World Records on Monday via X (formerly Twitter).
“New record: Largest serving of Nigerian style jollof rice – 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz) achieved by Hilda Baci and Gino in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria,” the global record body announced.
Baci, who rose to international fame with her headline-making cook-a-thon, has once again put Nigerian cuisine on the global stage. Ahead of the event, Guinness World Records shared a video cheering her on with the caption: “What’s cookin’? Best of luck to @hildabacicooks who’s attempting a new record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice today.”
The record attempt drew massive attention, with thousands of supporters, food lovers, and celebrities in attendance. The atmosphere turned into a carnival, complete with music, dancing, and live performances.
Nollywood actress Funke Akindele joined Baci at the cooking spot, helping stir the tomato base, while other high-profile supporters included Bamidele Abiodun, First Lady of Ogun State, as well as celebrities like Kaffy, Tomike Adeoye, Enioluwa, Veekee James, Tacha, Papaya, Alex Unusual, Spyro, and more.
Before the event, Baci explained that her custom-made pot had a capacity of 22,619 litres and her goal was to fill it to about 80 percent. She initially projected using 264 bags (over 5,000 kg) of rice, but later adjusted to 200 bags due to equipment limits on the weighing scale and crane.
Despite the adjustments, the effort produced over 4,000 kilogrammes of cooked rice, enough to feed more than 20,000 people.
Speaking after the achievement, Hilda said:
“The goal was that by the time I was done making 5,000 kilogrammes, I was hoping to achieve about 17,000 to 18,000 kilogrammes. Right now, if I include the weight of the pot, that’s about 20,000.”
With this new record, Hilda Baci not only cements her place as a culinary powerhouse but also shines the spotlight on Nigeria’s beloved jollof rice, a dish central to West African culture and celebrations.
