Celebrity chef and Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, has described the dramatic collapse of her custom-made jollof rice pot as a turning point that worked in her favor during her recent cooking milestone. The incident occurred on September 12, 2025, at the World Jollof Festival in Lagos, where she set a new record for the largest pot of jollof rice ever cooked at one time.
Baci, who is no stranger to high-pressure culinary challenges, recalled the moment with a mix of fear and gratitude. Speaking in a video shared on X by HipTV, she explained that her heart sank when the massive pot, designed to hold about 23,000 liters, suddenly caved in while being lifted for weighing. “In those first few seconds, my heart was in my hands. I was very scared and worried,” she admitted.
Despite the setback, Baci stressed that the incident quickly turned into an advantage. She revealed that the collapse made food distribution more efficient, allowing her team to serve thousands of festival attendees without the delays that might have come from managing the oversized pot. “I would say it was a good thing that the pot caved because it made food distribution a lot easier… it was a blessing in disguise,” she said.
During the attempt, Baci and her team prepared nearly 8,780 kilograms of jollof rice in a pot that measured six meters in both width and height. She emphasized that her focus was never solely on securing the world record, but on ensuring that people had the chance to taste and enjoy the meal. “For me, the record was not the most important thing. People needed to get to taste and enjoy the food we had spent hours making,” she explained.
The chef also highlighted her commitment to transparency throughout the record-setting process. Following the mishap, she reached out to the official adjudicator to report the pot’s collapse and made sure there was clear video documentation of the incident. “For me, transparency is very, very important. Once we were able to establish that we had a clear recording of what happened, it was just straight to the next thing, like to distribute the food,” she added.
Guinness World Records later confirmed Baci as the official holder of the title for the largest pot of jollof rice, cementing her name once again in history. This achievement comes two years after she earned global recognition for completing the longest individual cooking marathon in May 2023, when she cooked non-stop for 93 hours and 11 minutes.
Reflecting on her success, Baci attributed her journey to divine grace and resilience. “It’s just a testament that God is good and I’m a child of grace. When I tell you grace is here and you doubt me, look at my track record. Trust the Lord,” she declared, describing her accomplishment as more spiritual than personal.
Her latest triumph not only reinforces her reputation as a record-breaking chef but also underscores her dedication to using food as a unifying force. What began as a frightening mishap ultimately became a powerful reminder of adaptability, faith, and the importance of serving people first.
