What started as a sizzling celebration of Nigerian culinary pride took a heart-stopping twist late Friday night when celebrity chef Hilda Baci’s massive custom-built pot collapsed under the weight of her ambitious Guinness World Record attempt for the world’s largest pot of jollof rice. Undeterred, the 28-year-old record-holder—famous for her 2023 marathon cookathon that shattered global benchmarks—saw the mishap transform into a triumphant moment as a Guinness World Records representative declared the jollof “delicious” during an impromptu tasting.
The Gino Jollof Festival, held at the Eko Hotel car park after a last-minute venue switch from Muri Okunola Park to accommodate the swelling crowd, drew over 20,000 attendees, celebrities, and influencers buzzing with excitement. Baci, partnering with seasoning brand Gino, aimed to cook up to 250 bags of rice—roughly 5,278 kilograms—in a towering 22,619-liter vessel measuring six meters wide and six meters tall, filling it to at least 80% capacity for the record. “In just a few hours, this same pot will carry thousands of servings of Nigerian Jollof history in the making,” Baci had teased on social media earlier, after personally scrubbing the giant cookware spotless.
Eyewitness videos circulating on X captured the chaos: As the pot was hoisted for weighing post-cooking, it buckled and gave way, sending gasps rippling through the throng of supporters. “What began as a smooth celebration… took a dramatic turn,” one report noted, highlighting the structural failure that raised immediate doubts about certification, given GWR’s strict measurement protocols. Yet, in a plot twist worthy of Nollywood, the collapse occurred after the cooking was complete, allowing Baci’s team to salvage the aromatic batch for tasting.
Enter the GWR adjudicator, who sampled the rice in the early hours of Saturday and gave it a resounding thumbs-up: “Delicious.” The verdict, shared amid cheers from the crowd, shifted focus from the setback to the dish’s uncompromised quality, with Baci assuring fans it remained “amazing and hygienic.” Guinness World Records had already extended “best of luck” wishes pre-event, officially recognizing the attempt as a showcase of African heritage through the iconic West African staple.
Social media erupted with a mix of heartbreak and hilarity. “Pot don crash, but the jollof no crash! Hilda, you go still win this one 😂 #HildaBaciJollof,” one X user posted, while another hailed, “From cookathon queen to jollof savior—nothing stops this woman! 🇳🇬.” The festival, blending food exhibitions, live entertainment, and cultural displays, underscored Baci’s vision: not just a record, but a unifying feast symbolizing resilience and community.
As anticipation builds for GWR’s final verdict—pot collapse notwithstanding—Baci’s latest endeavor reaffirms her status as Nigeria’s culinary trailblazer. Whether it seals another feather in her cap or not, one thing’s clear: this jollof tale has spiced up global headlines, proving that in the kitchen of ambition, even a fall can rise deliciously.