Nigerian chef and restaurateur Hilda Baci has opened up about a dramatic moment during her Guinness World Record attempt, when the massive custom-made pot used for her jollof rice challenge unexpectedly collapsed.
In a video interview shared on X on Tuesday, Hilda described how the incident rattled her as she worked to cook the largest single serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice.
“When we had the mishap with the pot, my first few seconds, my heart was in my hands. I was very scared, very worried,” she said, adding that her focus quickly shifted from the record itself to ensuring people were fed.
The mishap occurred on September 12 at the World Jollof Festival in Lagos, where she and her team prepared nearly 8,780 kilograms of rice in a six-metre-wide pot designed to hold 23,000 litres. As the crane lifted the pot for weighing, one side gave way and the support legs collapsed, though the food inside remained secure.
Reflecting on the setback, Hilda said the collapse ultimately helped distribution, making it easier for thousands of attendees to taste the dish. “I would say it was a good thing that the pot caved because it made food distribution a lot easier… it was a blessing in disguise,” she explained.
Her team submitted photos and video evidence to Guinness World Records, which later confirmed her achievement as the largest pot of jollof rice ever cooked. Hilda recalled how swiftly they acted to keep the process credible and properly documented, turning what began as a tense moment into a celebrated triumph.
