Guinness World Records (GWR) has confirmed that Nigerian chef Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, has set a new record by cooking the largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice.
The confirmation came on Monday, September 15, 2025 through a post on GWR’s official X handle, which read: “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 record-breaking attempt took place last Friday at Victoria Island in Lagos, where Ms Bassey teamed up with Gino Nigeria to prepare 8,780 kilogrammes of the popular West African dish. The event drew thousands of attendees and featured live performances.
Jollof rice, a staple across West Africa, has long been at the centre of a culinary rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria, with debates focusing on ingredients and cooking techniques.
For the record to be recognised, organisers were required to meet strict conditions, including ingredient specifications. Ms Bassey shared the exact breakdown of what went into the dish, which was cooked in a giant pot. It included 4,000 kg of washed basmati rice, making up at least 80% of the total weight, 164 kg of fresh goat meat, 220 kg of Gino Asun & peppered chicken cubes, and 600 kg of her own jollof pepper mix.
She described the feat as the result of “nine hours of fire, passion and teamwork,” noting that 1,200 kg of gas was used to prepare 16,600 plates of rice, which were “served with joy, love and community.”
In line with Guinness World Records rules, none of the food prepared was allowed to go to waste.
Ms Bassey first rose to international fame in 2023 when she broke the record for the longest cooking marathon, an achievement that sparked widespread recognition and inspired record attempts across Africa.
