In a fiery online rant that’s already sparking debates across social media, controversial activist and influencer VeryDarkMan (VDM) has clapped back at critics accusing him of envy toward celebrity chef Hilda Baci’s latest Guinness World Record triumph. The self-proclaimed “very dark conscience of the nation” took to his platform to downplay the hype around Baci’s massive jollof rice event, insisting it’s nothing new in Nigerian culture.
Baci, 28, made headlines last week when she successfully prepared and served the world’s largest pot of Nigerian-style jollof rice, weighing a staggering 8,780 kg (19,356 lb). The epic cook-off, held at Victoria Island in Lagos in partnership with food brand Gino, used 4,000 kg of basmati rice, 500 cartons of tomato paste, 600 kg of onions, and 168 kg of goat meat, all simmered in a custom 23,000-litre pot over nine grueling hours. The dish yielded over 16,600 plates, which were distributed to thousands of attendees amid cheers and a near-disaster when the giant pot cracked during weighing – but no rice was lost. Guinness World Records officially certified the feat on Monday, cementing Baci’s status as a culinary powerhouse after her 2023 record for the longest cooking marathon.
The event drew massive crowds to Eko Hotels, with Baci even urging Lagos residents to bring coolers for leftovers to avoid waste, turning the record attempt into a community feast. Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, hailed it as a symbol of national pride, praising Baci for elevating Nigerian cuisine on the global stage.
But not everyone’s buying the euphoria. Enter VeryDarkMan, real name Martins Vincent Otse, who’s no stranger to stirring the pot – literally and figuratively. In a viral video circulating on X (formerly Twitter), VDM scoffed at suggestions that he’s bitter about Baci’s star power. “There’s a history of rice in Nigeria – any small thing, they share rice,” he quipped, gesturing animatedly as if dishing out portions himself. “Now they’re saying I’m jealous of Hilda Baci for pulling a crowd. What crowd? I can fill up a whole stadium if I want.”
VDM’s comments come amid ongoing online chatter comparing his influence to Baci’s, especially after he previously called her out over alleged delays in her cooking classes – a beef Baci addressed by sharing proof of active sessions. Social media users were quick to react, with some defending Baci’s achievement as a feel-good moment for a tough economy, while others echoed VDM’s sentiment that rice giveaways are as Nigerian as jollof debates. One X user joked, “VDM filling a stadium? With rice or with receipts?”
Baci, undeterred by the shade, has leaned into the positivity, posting emotional clips of the record confirmation call from Guinness and thanking supporters for making “history together, for Nigeria, for Africa.” Her feat has reignited the age-old “Jollof Wars” between Nigeria and Ghana, with no current holder for the largest Ghanaian-style serving – a subtle flex for Naija’s side.
As the dust settles on the rice-scented spectacle, VDM’s clapback serves as a reminder: in Nigeria, even world records come with a side of discourse. Whether it’s jealousy, cultural commentary, or just classic VDM energy, one thing’s clear – the conversation (and the jollof) is far from over.