Lagos woke up to the smell of jollof and a flood of chatter as celebrity chef and Guinness record holder Hilda Baci pulled off one of the boldest stunts Nigeria has seen in recent entertainment news. On Friday, September 12, 2025, she brought a pot so massive it made headlines before a single grain of rice hit the oil.
The giant cooking pot, reported to be over 22,000 litres in capacity, rolled into the grounds of Eko Hotels & Suites on the eve of the event. Social media was already buzzing after Hilda shared a video showing the custom-made pot arriving around 4 a.m. on September 11. TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) couldn’t keep calm, with fans screaming, “Is this for Guinness World Records or just Lagos party vibes?”
Hilda, known for her previous Guinness Cook-a-thon record, didn’t just bring the pot. She brought a promise: over 250 bags of rice, more than five tonnes in total, and a feast designed to feed thousands. The event, backed by seasoning giant Gino, quickly turned into a cultural spectacle. More than 20,000 people were expected to attend, and entry was free. If you think “free jollof rice in Lagos” sounds like a fairytale, well, this was the day it became reality.
Reports differ slightly on the pot’s dimensions, with some saying six metres wide and others claiming six metres across but only about one metre high. What everyone agrees on is that it was enormous, larger than any pot Nigeria has seen in modern memory. “Even Oba’s palace pot never reach this one,” one TikTok comment joked, sparking gossip about whether the pot would even fit on standard gas burners or if Hilda had a secret industrial setup hidden behind the hotel.
But beyond the fun, the question remains: is this the world’s largest pot of jollof rice? As of today, Guinness World Records has not issued an official statement confirming certification. That hasn’t stopped gossip blogs, celebrity watchers, and even international food lovers from speculating. Search engines are already flooded with phrases like “Hilda Baci jollof pot size,” “largest jollof rice world record,” “Eko Hotels jollof Lagos,” and “Guinness record Hilda 2025.” Everyone wants to know whether this culinary gamble will land her another spot in the Guinness hall of fame.
For those who attended, it wasn’t just about records. It was about pride. Jollof rice is more than food in Nigeria; it is identity, rivalry, and bragging rights rolled into one smoky, peppery dish. Ghana and Senegal may claim their versions, but Hilda Baci has once again reminded the world that Nigerian jollof knows how to pull a crowd.
The gossip angle wasn’t missing either. Rumours spread online that the pot cost millions to build, with whispers that sponsors secretly bankrolled the stunt. Some critics even hinted that this was less about records and more about brand deals and influencer clout. Whether true or not, the spectacle worked. Lagos turned its eyes and stomachs to Hilda Baci, and once again she proved she knows how to mix food, fame, and just the right amount of drama.
So did Hilda Baci break a Guinness World Record with her Lagos jollof pot? The jury is still out, but one thing is certain: she has cooked her way back into the headlines, into gossip blogs, and into the hearts of Nigerians who will be talking about the “Eko Hotels jollof” for years to come.
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