Nigerian chef, Hilda Bassey Effiong, popularly known as Hilda Baci has broken the Guinness World Record for longest cooking hours. Hilda broke the record which was previously held by Indian chef, Lata Tondon on Monday morning. Tondon had made meals for 87 hours, 45 minutes, and 00 seconds.
Hilda has become a national sensation after cooking non-stop for more than 90 hours in an attempt to break the world record. Hilda Baci has used over 100 different dishes since turning on her cooker at 15:00 GMT on Thursday.
Politicians and celebrities have been egging her on, as has the boisterous crowd watching her cook. Guinness World Records says it is reviewing the evidence before saying if she has broken the record.
Though no officials of the organization are at the venue in the upmarket area of Lekki in Lagos, CCTV cameras have been installed to monitor the event.
Baci, 27, initially planned to cook for 96 hours – until 15:00GMT on Monday. But the crowd camped outside the venue persuaded her to keep going until she hit the 100-hour mark.
She has cooked mostly Nigerian meals, such as jollof rice, as well as different types of rice and pasta, and has also made akara – a popular street food made from deep-fried mashed beans. The food is being handed out to guests.
She is allowed one assistant at a time and can take a five-minute break each hour, or the equivalent over several hours.
“This attempt is proof of the strong young people can exhibit with the right platform and support,” the chef told BBC News Pidgin before starting her marathon cooking session.
Baci is showing visible signs of physical exertion and is getting cold compresses applied to her head, and foot massages during her breaks. A medical assistant is also checking her vital signs.
Her attempt has captivated the country, with politicians and celebrities stopping by to cheer her on.
Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was at the venue on Sunday, and she also received a call from Nigeria’s Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
“We are proud to have Hilda embarking on this journey in our state. I will continue to follow the updates and look forward to the final declaration,” Mr Sanwo-Olu said.
Baci is no stranger to the heat of competitive kitchen events. In 2021 she defeated other contestants at the maiden edition of the “Jollof Faceoff”, including a Ghanaian rival in the final, to claim the crown for the best version of West Africa’s fiercely contested spicy rice meal.
She said her passion for cooking was inspired by her mother’s culinary techniques and that her recipes were homemade.
In other news – Nigerian preacher Chris Okafor set for a three-day prayer conference in Harare
Various gospel musicians are set to converge at the Harare Gardens for a three-day prayer conference which starts on the 19th of this month.
The event, organized by the Economic Empowerment Group (EEG), will see Nigerian preacher Chris Okafor leading the prayer conference meant to promote peace and harmony during the country’s general elections expected to be held in August. Learn More
