On Monday, September 15, 2025, Guinness World Records crowned Nigerian chef Hilda Baci for creating the world’s largest jollof rice dish. Cooked in Lagos on Friday, the 8,780 kg (19,356 pounds) dish beat all previous records. Baci celebrated the win on X, calling it an early birthday gift as she turns 30 this weekend.
Baci’s massive jollof rice was made in a 20-foot-wide pot, using five tonnes of basmati rice, 600 kg of onions, and 750 kg of cooking oil, all mixed with tomato sauce. Around 8,000 people cheered her on. This follows her 2023 record for a 93-hour cooking marathon, later topped by Irish chef Alan Fisher.
New record: Largest serving of Nigerian style jollof rice – 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz) achieved by Hilda Baci and Gino in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/ErJLEJR5Qr
— Guinness World Records (@GWR) September 15, 2025Jollof rice, a beloved West African dish, is rice cooked in tomato sauce with meat or fish. Its origins trace back to the 14th-century Wolof empire in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania, where it was called thiebou dieune. The dish spread with the Wolof migration. Today, Nigeria and Ghana playfully compete over the best recipe, but Senegal’s version earned UNESCO heritage status in 2021.
New record: Largest serving of Nigerian style jollof rice – 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz) achieved by Hilda Baci and Gino in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/ErJLEJR5Qr
— Guinness World Records (@GWR) September 15, 2025Baci’s record showcases Nigerian culinary pride and her global influence. The massive jollof rice event brought people together, celebrating culture and food. It also highlights the friendly rivalry over jollof’s best version, sparking joy across West Africa and beyond.
Hilda Baci’s Guinness World Record for the largest jollof rice dish is a tasty triumph for Nigeria. Her 8,780 kg creation in Lagos sets a new standard.
