Guinness World Records holder, Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, has revealed that she reduced the quantity of rice at her ongoing attempt to cook the world’s largest pot of jollof rice from 250 bags to 200 to avoid exceeding the weight limit of her weighing equipment.
Baci made this known while speaking to journalists on Friday during the attempt at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
She said her initial plan was to cook about 5,000 kilograms of rice, which would amount to roughly 250 bags and give a total mass of about 17,000 to 18,000 kilograms.
According to her, when combined with the heavy custom-built pot, the total could reach 20,000 kilograms, which is the maximum the crane and scale on site can carry at once.
“It’s safer for me to go below 20,000 kilograms so that my scale can carry it all at the same time. Basically, that is why I have to cut down on the quantity, and I only cut it down by 1,000 kilograms,” she said.
Baci noted that the revised plan now involves cooking 4,000 kilograms of rice, about 200 bags, which she said would still be enough to feed about 20,000 people.
“A lot of you came with your cooler. So we need to make sure everybody’s fed. Gino and I are feeding the nation,” she added.
The event, titled The World Jollof Festival with Hilda Baci, drew a massive crowd and featured music, cultural showcases and celebrity appearances.
Among those present were actress Funke Akindele, who mounted the stage to cheer Baci and later joined her in stirring the tomato base, and fashion designer Veekee James, who thrilled the audience with her dance moves.
Also at the venue were Bamidele Abiodun, First Lady of Ogun State; choreographer Kaffy; content creators Tomike Adeoye and Enioluwa Adeoluwa; and media personalities Femi Atere, Samuel Banks, Alex Unusual and Folagbade Banks.
Baci rose to global fame in 2023 after setting the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon, which she completed in over 93 hours in Lagos.
