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Guinness World Records has officially certified Nigerian chef Hilda Baci’s latest culinary achievement, recognising her Lagos-cooked jollof rice as the largest ever prepared. The announcement came on Monday, with Guinness confirming on X that it was indeed “the largest serving of Nigerian style jollof rice – 8,780 kg” (19,356 pounds and nine ounces).
The marathon cooking session, which lasted nine hours, nearly ended in disaster when the giant pot containing the dish cracked while being lifted by a crane for weighing. Fortunately, none of the rice spilled, and the record attempt remained intact.
Grateful for the support she received, Ms Baci took to social media to share her joy: “This moment isn’t just mine… it belongs to all of us.”
Despite the pot buckling twice during the weigh-in, her team persisted, gathering video evidence from multiple cameras to submit to Guinness World Records. Their efforts paid off, just in time for Baci’s 30th birthday celebrations.
The massive pot, measuring six metres (20 feet) across, held around five tonnes of basmati rice, 600 kilograms of onions, and 750 kilograms of cooking oil, all simmered in tomato sauce, while nearly 8,000 supporters cheered her on.
Jollof rice, a beloved West African staple, is traditionally cooked with rice, tomato sauce, and either meat or fish, though its recipes vary from country to country.
Its origins trace back to the 14th-century Wolof Empire, spanning parts of present-day Senegal, Mauritania, and The Gambia, where people prepared thiebou dieune – a rice dish with fish, seafood, and vegetables.
The migration of the Wolof people helped spread the recipe across the region, giving rise to today’s fierce “jollof rivalry,” particularly between Nigeria and Ghana. In 2021, however, a Senegalese version was honoured by UNESCO as part of its Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
