Hilda Baci If there’s one thing Nigerians will always go to war over, it’s jollof rice. But this time, instead of a Twitter spat with Ghana, we’re talking about an actual Guinness World Record.
On September 12th at Eko Hotels in Lagos, chef and culinary influencer Hilda Baci teamed up with Gino Nigeria to cook the largest serving of Nigerian jollof rice ever made. We’re talking 8,780 kilograms of the smoky, peppery goodness — a pot so massive it needed 1,200 kilograms of gas and nine hours of nonstop fire and teamwork to stay alive.
And now it’s official: Guinness World Records has stamped the feat.
This isn’t Hilda’s first rodeo, of course. Back in 2023, she made global headlines when she cooked for 93 hours and 11 minutes straight, setting a new record for the longest cooking marathon (which was later broken but launched her career into brand deals, ambassadorships, and serious star status). Fast forward to 2025, and she’s back with another entry in the record books — this time with Nigeria’s most beloved dish.
So, what exactly went into this mega pot?
- 4,000 kg of washed basmati rice (rule says it had to be at least 80% of the weight)
- 612 kg of oil
- 220 kg of Gino Asun & peppered chicken cubes
- 600 kg of Hilda’s own jollof pepper mix
- 300 kg of onion, garlic & ginger blend
- 164 kg of goat meat
- A splash of spices: 20 g of curry, 7 g of thyme
- And of course, enough Gino seasoning to make it party jollof approved.
But the rules didn’t just end with ingredients. Guinness required that every grain cooked had to be served — no waste, no excuses. Which is why the record pot became 16,600 plates of jollof rice, shared “with joy, love, and community,” as Hilda put it.
“Cooking this rice wasn’t just about breaking a record,” she said. “It was about fire, passion, teamwork — and proving once again what Nigerians can do when we come together.”
ABOVE: Hilda Baci / Instagram
The vibe at the Gino World Jollof Festival was pure Lagos: celebrity cameos, live performances, crowds hyping every moment. It was a food event, but it doubled as a cultural flex. Because if jollof is the crown jewel of Nigerian cuisine, Hilda just made sure the whole world knows who wears it best.
Guinness World Records confirmed the win on September 15th, just three days after the attempt. And honestly? Nigerians will be talking about this one for years.
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