Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, has revealed her next ambitious culinary project: an attempt to cook what could become the world’s largest pot of jollof rice. The celebrated Nigerian chef, who earned global recognition in 2023 after breaking the record for the longest cooking marathon, announced the plans in a video shared on Instagram.
Baci disclosed that the feat will require a specially designed pot with a staggering capacity of 22,619 litres, as well as monumental quantities of rice, condiments, and spices. According to her, this project is not merely about size but also about celebrating Nigerian cuisine on a global stage.
At the heart of Baci’s ambitious project is the giant pot, designed to hold over twenty-two thousand litres of food. She explained that her target is to fill at least 75 to 80 per cent of its volume with steaming hot jollof rice.
“My goal is to fill this pot up by at least 75 to 80 per cent,” she said. “That means I will need about 5,278 kilogrammes of raw basmati rice to achieve the yield.”
The calculation, she added, would normally translate to around 264 bags of rice, but after careful consideration she opted for a round figure
Rice has long been central to Nigerian celebrations, and no dish symbolises unity and festivity more than jollof rice. Baci’s decision to use 250 bags of rice underscores both the enormity of the project and the cultural weight the dish carries.
In her breakdown, the chef noted that basmati rice would be her preferred choice for its light texture and ability to absorb the rich tomato base without clumping. She explained that each kilogramme of rice would require an average of 0.30 kilogrammes of tomato base—a calculation that informed the condiments needed.
Beyond the rice, the cooking will demand massive volumes of flavouring agents to ensure that the dish remains authentically Nigerian. Baci revealed that she will need at least 1,583 kilogrammes of tomato paste to achieve the perfect jollof taste.
“For one kilogramme of rice, you would need between 0.20 to 0.35, but because it’s Nigerian jollof, I’m going to use 0.30. That means I will need 1,583 kilogrammes of Gino tomato paste,” she explained.
She added that the tomato base would be divided across tomato paste, pepper chicken paste, and specially prepared jollof paste to create a balance of sweetness, spice, and smokiness. For Baci, the challenge is not just about size but about creating the largest pot of delicious jollof rice ever made.
This is not the first time Hilda Baci has embarked on an audacious cooking project. In 2023, she captured the world’s attention with
her Guinness World Record attempt for the longest cooking marathon, a feat that saw her spend over 90 hours at the stove. That achievement transformed her from a rising chef into a national icon and global culinary ambassador.Her new project builds on that momentum. By attempting the largest pot of jollof rice, she is cementing her reputation not only as a record-breaker but also as a cultural ambassador determined to put Nigerian cuisine at the forefront of global conversations.
Jollof rice is more than just food; it is a cultural symbol in West Africa. Fiercely debated across countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal, jollof rice has become both a unifying dish and a source of playful rivalry.
By choosing jollof rice for her next record attempt, Baci is tapping into this rich heritage. Her project is set to reignite discussions around the famed “jollof wars” while celebrating the Nigerian variant, which is often praised for its smoky, spicy depth of flavour.
The scale of Baci’s plan has sparked widespread curiosity about how she intends to manage the logistics. A pot of over 22,000 litres filled with rice will not only require massive quantities of condiments but also industrial-scale heat sources, manpower, and organisation.
Experts estimate that a pot of this size could feed tens of thousands of people. Baci’s team has hinted that the rice will be shared widely to ensure that communities benefit from the effort rather than letting the record-breaking dish go to waste.
The announcement has generated excitement both in Nigeria and abroad. Social media has been buzzing with comments from fans eager to witness the historic moment. Many have described the project as a testament to Nigerian resilience, creativity, and love for food.
Observers also note that the event could attract global media coverage, shining a spotlight on Nigerian cuisine in much the same way that her cooking marathon drew international attention.
For Hilda Baci, the project is not just about entering the Guinness World Records again. It is also about promoting Nigerian culture, inspiring young chefs, and creating a unifying moment for communities.
Her calculated decision to use 250 bags of rice, instead of the initial 264, highlights her awareness of both practicality and sustainability. The balance between ambition and responsibility is part of what has made her a respected figure in Nigeria’s food industry.
As Hilda Baci prepares for this record-breaking attempt, anticipation continues to build. From the sheer size of the pot to the massive quantities of rice and condiments required, the project represents a remarkable intersection of culinary skill, cultural pride, and global ambition.
If successful, it will not only secure Baci another place in the Guinness World Records but also reaffirm Nigeria’s place on the global food map with the dish that defines its celebrations: jollof rice.
