The smell of smoky jollof rice filled the Lagos air. Drums beat, cameras flashed, and hundreds lined up under the scorching sun, waiting for a scoop from what would become the world’s largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice.
Celebrity chef Hilda Effiong Bassey, beaming in her apron, stirred the mammoth pot as cheers rose around her. For a moment, it felt like national pride served on a plate.
In 2023, she made global headlines when she broke the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.
For many outside Nigeria, the focus was not on whether the rice was sweet but on the scale, innovation, and cultural pride behind the achievement.
The giant custom-made pot measures six metres wide and six metres tall, with a capacity of 22,619 litres.
Initially, Hilda planned to use 5,000 kilogrammes of raw basmati rice, about 250 bags. However, due to weighing challenges, she said she reduced it to 4,000 kilogrammes, or 200 bags.
A crane had been deployed to lift the pot onto a scale for official verification, but it gave way under its own weight, sending spectators into panic.
But back on the street and online, not everyone was impressed. Nigerian scholar, filmmaker, jazz musician, and publisher whose interdisciplinary work spans literature, cinema, and cultural studies, Onyeka Nwelue drew the first blood. He wrote, “Nigerians are cooking rice while others are winning Nobel prizes.”
The criticism dimensioned into heated debates about taste, poverty, and national priorities.
Nigerian social media influencer, entrepreneur, and financial coach Emmanuel Obruste, popularly known as GehGeh, ignited the firestorm with a scathing comment: “Hilda Baci is giving too much attention, energy, and money to things that don’t contribute anything to Nigeria.”
“This Guinness World Record attempt for the largest pot of jollof rice has only exposed how hungry and poor Nigerians are. Just look at the way people are fighting for rice.”
His words echoed the sentiments of many who felt embarrassed by viral videos of crowds scrambling, shoving, and even fighting for free rice. To them, the event showcased less of Nigeria’s culinary brilliance and more of its deepening hunger crisis.
What started as a celebration of jollof rice quickly spiralled into a noisy online war of words, with Nigerians split between pride and shame.
READ ALSO: Hilda Baci Completes World Record Attempt for Largest Pot of Jollof Rice
Popular food critic and content creator Opeyemi Famakin publicly called out media personality Gehgeh for his controversial remarks about Hilda Baci’s Jollof Fest.
In a fiery post shared on his social media, Opeyemi described Gehgeh’s comments as “unnecessary and dismissive”, stressing that the Jollof Fest was more than just an event; it was a celebration of culture, food, and Nigerian culinary excellence.
Actress Jumoke Odetola also stepped in to defend Baci against what she called needless bitterness.
In an Instagram post, she wrote, “It is heartbreaking when negativity overshadows greatness. People saying things like ‘he is not sweet’ or asking if cooking is an achievement. And I keep asking, what is going on with us? What has changed in our mindset as humans?”
Odetola stressed that pulling off such a feat requires “immense courage, as well as mental, emotional, psychological, and financial strength.” She urged Nigerians to celebrate, not tear down, women who dare to attempt greatness.
Her words struck a chord with those who felt the backlash was less about rice and more about envy, economic hardship, and cultural cynicism.
Mixed Reviews from the Ground
Still, the taste debate raged on. Some fans praised the rice as “smoky, rich, and full of flavour”, marvelling at how edible it remained despite the gigantic scale. Others were less generous, complaining of “salty”, “under-spiced”, or even “strong” portions by the time they got their plates.
Ossia Ovie Success went further, blasting Baci for omitting proteins: “Cooking jollof rice without fish, chicken, or meat is disappointing. It’s disrespectful and annoying to share rice with people without them. Please, if you are not ready to include fish, chicken, or meat next time, don’t try this. I am really disappointed.”
The truth, perhaps, lies somewhere in between: cooking at this scale was bound to produce mixed results.
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Guinness World Records Confirms
Amid the noise, Guinness World Records made it official. On its verified Facebook page, GWR announced, “Congratulations on cooking up another successful record, Hilda Baci.”
A photograph accompanied the statement, showing Baci smiling beside her team while stirring the record-breaking pot. The caption read: “Chef Hilda Baci and Gino serve up the largest ever serving of Nigerian jollof rice.”
The post racked up over 9,000 reactions, 1,200 comments, and 600 shares within hours.
Cultural Analysts Say Backlash Reveals Basic Misunderstanding
“Nigerians are confusing the issues. She’s not competing in the tastiest jollof rice but rather the largest pot of jollof rice. Two different things,” one observer noted.
The Guinness World Record does not test whether rice is delicious; it measures scale, logistics, and execution. In a pot large enough to feed thousands, consistency in taste is almost impossible. The achievement lies in size, not seasoning.
At its core, the controversy reflects a painful contradiction. Nigeria boasts a vibrant culture and global icons like Hilda Baci, yet over 133 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty. The jollof spectacle, meant as a celebration, became an uncomfortable mirror of food insecurity and inequality.
Dr Adaobi Olatunde, a Lagos-based sociologist, put it plainly: “The criticism of Hilda Baci is not really about her but about Nigeria’s condition. People see videos of crowds scrambling for food, and it reinforces how dire things are. In another country, this would have been a purely celebratory event. Here, it becomes a commentary on hunger.”
READ ALSO: Hilda Baci Secures Guinness World Record for Largest Serving of Jollof Rice
Writing on Baci’s feat, communications strategist Azuka Onwuka said, “When chef Hilda Baci recently cooked the largest jollof rice and broke yet another world record, she didn’t just stir rice in a large pot – she stirred global attention towards Nigeria and Africa’s most iconic dish.
“She also stirred the hornet’s nest in some quarters. Hers went beyond a culinary feat. She exemplified the Nigerian spirit of excellence, resilience and creativity.
“So, to Hilda Baci, we say: congratulations. Thank you for cooking more than rice; thank you for cooking pride, inspiration, and hope. Thank you for reminding us that through excellence, the world will notice Nigeria – not just for its problems, but for something positive. Thank you for reinforcing the belief that as a big country, we do big things, and in whatever we do, Naija no dey carry last. Finally, thank you for proving that in the pot of global recognition, Nigeria’s flavour will always stand out.”
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
